Changing the face of kynurenines and neurotoxicity: therapeutic considerations.
Kynurenines are the products of tryptophan metabolism. Among them, kynurenine and kynurenic acid are generally thought to have neuroprotective properties, while 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid and quinolinic acid are considered neurotoxic. They participate in immunoregulation and inflammation and possess pro- or anti-excitotoxic properties, and their involvement in oxidative stress has also been suggested. Consequently, it is not surprising that kynurenines have been closely related to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. More information about the less-known metabolites, picolinic and cinnabarinic acid, evaluation of new receptorial targets, such as aryl-hydrocarbon receptors, and intensive research on the field of the immunomodulatory function of kynurenines delineated the high importance of this pathway in general homeostasis. Emerging knowledge about the kynurenine pathway provides new target points for the development of therapeutical solutions against neurodegenerative diseases.
MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged H-6725, Hungary. zsuzsanna.bohar@gmail.com.
Zsuzsanna
Z
Bohár
MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged H-6725, Hungary. toldi@bio.u-szeged.hu.|Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged H-6726, Hungary. toldi@bio.u-szeged.hu.
József
J
Toldi
Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös utca 6, Szeged H-6720, Hungary. fulop@pharm.u-szeged.hu.
Ferenc
F
Fülöp
MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged H-6725, Hungary. vecsei.laszlo@med.u-szeged.hu.|Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged H-6725, Hungary. vecsei.laszlo@med.u-szeged.hu.
László
L
Vécsei
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*
D009498:Neurotoxins; D007737:Kynurenine