title: Novel kynurenic acid analogues in the treatment of migraine and neurodegenerative disorders: preclinical studies and pharmaceutical design.
abstract: Though migraine and neurodegenerative disorders have a high socioeconomic impact, their therapeutic management has not been fully addressed. Their pathomechanisms are not completely understood, but glutamateinduced excitotoxicity, mitochondrial disturbances and oxidative stress all seem to play crucial roles. The overactivation of glutamate receptors contributes to the hyperexcitability observed in migraine and also to the neurodegenerative process. The kynurenine pathway of the tryptophan metabolism produces the only known endogenous Nmethyl- D-aspartate receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid, which has been proven in different preclinical studies to exert a neuroprotective effect. Influencing the kynurenine pathway might be beneficial in migraine and neurodegenerative diseases, and in the normalization of glutamatergic neurotransmission and the prevention of excitotoxic neuronal damage. The synthesis of kynurenic acid analogues may offer a valuable tool for drug development.
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tajti
authors.forename: Zsofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Majlath
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szok
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csati
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toldi
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fulop
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Clinical Centre, Semmelweis u. 6. H-6725 Szeged, Hungary. vecsei.laszlo@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vecsei
mesh_terms: D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007736:Kynurenic Acid