title: The kynurenine pathway as a therapeutic target in cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders.
abstract: Understanding the neurochemical basis for cognitive function is one of the major goals of neuroscience, with a potential impact on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. In this review, the focus will be on a biochemical pathway that remains under-recognized in its implications for brain function, even though it can be responsible for moderating the activity of two neurotransmitters fundamentally involved in cognition - glutamate and acetylcholine. Since this pathway - the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism - is induced by immunological activation and stress, it also stands in a unique position to mediate the effects of environmental factors on cognition and behaviour. Targeting the pathway for new drug development could, therefore, be of value not only for the treatment of existing psychiatric conditions, but also for preventing the development of cognitive disorders in response to environmental pressures.
authors: Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. trevor.stone@glasgow.ac.uk
authors: Trevor W
authors: TW
authors: Stone
authors: L Gail
authors: LG
authors: Darlington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism*; D050601:Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000637:Transaminases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D007737:Kynurenine; D050601:Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase; D000637:Transaminases; C021481:kynurenine-oxoglutarate transaminase
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