title: The kynurenine pathway and parasitic infections that affect CNS function.
abstract: The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism has been implicated in brain function, immunoregulation, anti-microbial mechanisms and pregnancy. Some of these actions are due to depletion of tryptophan and others to the formation of biologically active metabolites. This review focuses on the roles of the kynurenine pathway in host responses during two parasitic diseases of major health and economic importance, malaria and toxoplasmosis, with an emphasis on their impacts on CNS function. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Kynurenine Pathway in Health and Disease'.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: Nicholas.hunt@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicholas H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Lay Khoon
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Too
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Loke Tim
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Leia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hee
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Georges E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020807:Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways
chemical_list: D007737:Kynurenine
keywords: Cerebral malaria; Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase; Interferon-γ; Kynurenine pathway; Malaria; Toxoplasma; Tryptophan