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Kondo T, Okada Y, Shizuya S, Yamaguchi N, Hatakeyama S, Maruyama K. Neuroimmune modulation by tryptophan derivatives in neurological and inflammatory disorders. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151418. [PMID: 38729083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The nervous and immune systems are highly developed, and each performs specialized physiological functions. However, they work together, and their dysfunction is associated with various diseases. Specialized molecules, such as neurotransmitters, cytokines, and more general metabolites, are essential for the appropriate regulation of both systems. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is converted into functional molecules such as serotonin and kynurenine, both of which play important roles in the nervous and immune systems. The role of kynurenine metabolites in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases has recently received particular attention. Recently, we found that hyperactivity of the kynurenine pathway is a critical risk factor for septic shock. In this review, we first outline neuroimmune interactions and tryptophan derivatives and then summarized the changes in tryptophan metabolism in neurological disorders. Finally, we discuss the potential of tryptophan derivatives as therapeutic targets for neuroimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kondo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8636, Japan
| | - Yuka Okada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
| | - Saika Shizuya
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
| | - Naoko Yamaguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Shigetsugu Hatakeyama
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8636, Japan
| | - Kenta Maruyama
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
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Pathak S, Nadar R, Kim S, Liu K, Govindarajulu M, Cook P, Watts Alexander CS, Dhanasekaran M, Moore T. The Influence of Kynurenine Metabolites on Neurodegenerative Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:853. [PMID: 38255925 PMCID: PMC10815839 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
As the kynurenine pathway's links to inflammation, the immune system, and neurological disorders became more apparent, it attracted more and more attention. It is the main pathway through which the liver breaks down Tryptophan and the initial step in the creation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in mammals. Immune system activation and the buildup of potentially neurotoxic substances can result from the dysregulation or overactivation of this pathway. Therefore, it is not shocking that kynurenines have been linked to neurological conditions (Depression, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease, Schizophrenia, and cognitive deficits) in relation to inflammation. Nevertheless, preclinical research has demonstrated that kynurenines are essential components of the behavioral analogs of depression and schizophrenia-like cognitive deficits in addition to mediators associated with neurological pathologies due to their neuromodulatory qualities. Neurodegenerative diseases have been extensively associated with neuroactive metabolites of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan breakdown. In addition to being a necessary amino acid for protein synthesis, Tryptophan is also transformed into the important neurotransmitters tryptamine and serotonin in higher eukaryotes. In this article, a summary of the KP, its function in neurodegeneration, and the approaches being used currently to target the route therapeutically are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhrud Pathak
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Rishi Nadar
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Shannon Kim
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Keyi Liu
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Manoj Govindarajulu
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Preston Cook
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | | | - Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Timothy Moore
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Bian X, Wang Q, Wang Y, Lou S. The function of previously unappreciated exerkines secreted by muscle in regulation of neurodegenerative diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 16:1305208. [PMID: 38249295 PMCID: PMC10796786 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1305208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The initiation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), distinguished by compromised nervous system integrity, profoundly disrupt the quality of life of patients, concurrently exerting a considerable strain on both the economy and the social healthcare infrastructure. Exercise has demonstrated its potential as both an effective preventive intervention and a rehabilitation approach among the emerging therapeutics targeting NDs. As the largest secretory organ, skeletal muscle possesses the capacity to secrete myokines, and these myokines can partially improve the prognosis of NDs by mediating the muscle-brain axis. Besides the well-studied exerkines, which are secreted by skeletal muscle during exercise that pivotally exert their beneficial function, the physiological function of novel exerkines, e.g., apelin, kynurenic acid (KYNA), and lactate have been underappreciated previously. Herein, this review discusses the roles of these novel exerkines and their mechanisms in regulating the progression and improvement of NDs, especially the significance of their functions in improving NDs' prognoses through exercise. Furthermore, several myokines with potential implications in ameliorating ND progression are proposed as the future direction for investigation. Elucidation of the function of exerkines secreted by skeletal muscle in the regulation of NDs advances the understanding of its pathogenesis and facilitates the development of therapeutics that intervene in these processes to cure NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuepeng Bian
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Yibing Wang
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Shujie Lou
- School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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Lautrup S, Hou Y, Fang EF, Bohr VA. Roles of NAD + in Health and Aging. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041193. [PMID: 37848251 PMCID: PMC10759992 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
NAD+, the essential metabolite involved in multiple reactions such as the regulation of cellular metabolism, energy production, DNA repair, mitophagy and autophagy, inflammation, and neuronal function, has been the subject of intense research in the field of aging and disease over the last decade. NAD+ levels decline with aging and in some age-related diseases, and reduction in NAD+ affects all the hallmarks of aging. Here, we present an overview of the discovery of NAD+, the cellular pathways of producing and consuming NAD+, and discuss how imbalances in the production rate and cellular request of NAD+ likely contribute to aging and age-related diseases including neurodegeneration. Preclinical studies have revealed great potential for NAD+ precursors in promotion of healthy aging and improvement of neurodegeneration. This has led to the initiation of several clinical trials with NAD+ precursors to treat accelerated aging, age-associated dysfunctions, and diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. NAD supplementation has great future potential clinically, and these studies will also provide insight into the mechanisms of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Lautrup
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Yujun Hou
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Evandro F Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway
- The Norwegian Centre on Healthy Ageing (NO-Age), Oslo, Norway
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- DNA Repair Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
- Danish Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Stone TW, Williams RO. Tryptophan metabolism as a 'reflex' feature of neuroimmune communication: Sensor and effector functions for the indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase kynurenine pathway. J Neurochem 2023. [PMID: 38102897 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Although the central nervous system (CNS) and immune system were regarded as independent entities, it is now clear that immune system cells can influence the CNS, and neuroglial activity influences the immune system. Despite the many clinical implications for this 'neuroimmune interface', its detailed operation at the molecular level remains unclear. This narrative review focuses on the metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, since its products have critical actions in both the nervous and immune systems, placing it in a unique position to influence neuroimmune communication. In particular, since the kynurenine pathway is activated by pro-inflammatory mediators, it is proposed that physical and psychological stressors are the stimuli of an organismal protective reflex, with kynurenine metabolites as the effector arm co-ordinating protective neural and immune system responses. After a brief review of the neuroimmune interface, the general perception of tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine pathway is expanded to emphasize this environmentally driven perspective. The initial enzymes in the kynurenine pathway include indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), which is induced by tissue damage, inflammatory mediators or microbial products, and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), which is induced by stress-induced glucocorticoids. In the immune system, kynurenic acid modulates leucocyte differentiation, inflammatory balance and immune tolerance by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptors and modulates pain via the GPR35 protein. In the CNS, quinolinic acid activates N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive glutamate receptors, whereas kynurenic acid is an antagonist: the balance between glutamate, quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid is a significant regulator of CNS function and plasticity. The concept of kynurenine and its metabolites as mediators of a reflex coordinated protection against stress helps to understand the variety and breadth of their activity. It should also help to understand the pathological origin of some psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases involving the immune system and CNS, facilitating the development of new pharmacological strategies for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W Stone
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard O Williams
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Stone TW, Williams RO. Modulation of T cells by tryptophan metabolites in the kynurenine pathway. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:442-456. [PMID: 37248103 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Lymphocytes maturing in the thymus (T cells) are key factors in adaptive immunity and the regulation of inflammation. The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism includes several enzymes and compounds that can modulate T cell function, but manipulating these pharmacologically has not achieved the expected therapeutic activity for the treatment of autoimmune disorders and cancer. With increasing knowledge of other pathways interacting with kynurenines, the expansion of screening methods, and the application of virtual techniques to understanding enzyme structures and mechanisms, details of interactions between kynurenines and other pathways are being revealed. This review surveys some of these alternative approaches to influence T cell function indirectly via the kynurenine pathway and summarizes the most recent work on the development of compounds acting directly on the kynurenine pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W Stone
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Richard O Williams
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK.
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Kwak SH, Ahn S, Shin MH, Leem AY, Lee SH, Chung K, Kim YS, Lee SG, Park MS. Identification of Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Prediction of Renal Recovery in the Intensive Care Unit. Yonsei Med J 2023; 64:181-190. [PMID: 36825344 PMCID: PMC9971432 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2022.0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Acute kidney injury (AKI) following sepsis is associated with higher mortality; however, reliable biomarkers for AKI development and recovery remain to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with sepsis admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of Severance Hospital between June 2018 and May 2019 were prospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into those with and without AKI within 48 hours. Patients with septic AKI were subdivided into AKI-recovery and non-recovery groups based on whether their kidney injury recovered within 7 days. RESULTS A total of 84 patients were enrolled. The baseline creatinine (2.9 mg/dL vs. 0.8 mg/dL vs. 1.2 mg/dL, p<0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (4.5 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.0, p=0.002), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (10.0 vs. 6.5 vs. 8.0, p<0.001), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (32.0 vs. 21.5 vs. 30.5, p=0.004) were higher in the non-recovery AKI group compared to the non-AKI and AKI-recovery groups. The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that non-recovery from AKI was associated with lower survival (p<0.001). High-lactate (p≤0.05) and kynurenine levels (p≤0.05) were associated with non-recovery of renal function following AKI. The areas under the curve for predicting non-recovery from AKI were 0.693 and 0.721 for lactate and kynurenine, respectively. The survival rate was lower in the high-kynurenine (p=0.040) and high-lactate (p=0.010) groups. CONCLUSION The mortality of patients who recovered from AKI was comparable to that of patients without AKI. Lactate and kynurenine could be useful biomarkers for the diagnosis and recovery of AKI following sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Hyun Kwak
- Division of Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, Korea
| | - Sunyoung Ahn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Hwa Shin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ah Young Leem
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Hwan Lee
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyungsoo Chung
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Sam Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Guk Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Moo Suk Park
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Savonije K, Weaver DF. The Role of Tryptophan Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020292. [PMID: 36831835 PMCID: PMC9954102 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The need to identify new potentially druggable biochemical mechanisms for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an ongoing priority. The therapeutic limitations of amyloid-based approaches are further motivating this search. Amino acid metabolism, particularly tryptophan metabolism, has the potential to emerge as a leading candidate and an alternative exploitable biomolecular target. Multiple avenues support this contention. Tryptophan (trp) and its associated metabolites are able to inhibit various enzymes participating in the biosynthesis of β-amyloid, and one metabolite, 3-hydroxyanthranilate, is able to directly inhibit neurotoxic β-amyloid oligomerization; however, whilst certain trp metabolites are neuroprotectant, other metabolites, such as quinolinic acid, are directly toxic to neurons and may themselves contribute to AD progression. Trp metabolites also have the ability to influence microglia and associated cytokines in order to modulate the neuroinflammatory and neuroimmune factors which trigger pro-inflammatory cytotoxicity in AD. Finally, trp and various metabolites, including melatonin, are regulators of sleep, with disorders of sleep being an important risk factor for the development of AD. Thus, the involvement of trp biochemistry in AD is multifactorial and offers a plethora of druggable targets in the continuing quest for AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Savonije
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, 60 Leonard Avenue, Rm 4KD477, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Donald F. Weaver
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, 60 Leonard Avenue, Rm 4KD477, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Departments of Medicine (Neurology) and Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Stone TW, Clanchy FIL, Huang YS, Chiang NY, Darlington LG, Williams RO. An integrated cytokine and kynurenine network as the basis of neuroimmune communication. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1002004. [PMID: 36507331 PMCID: PMC9729788 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1002004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Two of the molecular families closely associated with mediating communication between the brain and immune system are cytokines and the kynurenine metabolites of tryptophan. Both groups regulate neuron and glial activity in the central nervous system (CNS) and leukocyte function in the immune system, although neither group alone completely explains neuroimmune function, disease occurrence or severity. This essay suggests that the two families perform complementary functions generating an integrated network. The kynurenine pathway determines overall neuronal excitability and plasticity by modulating glutamate receptors and GPR35 activity across the CNS, and regulates general features of immune cell status, surveillance and tolerance which often involves the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR). Equally, cytokines and chemokines define and regulate specific populations of neurons, glia or immune system leukocytes, generating more specific responses within restricted CNS regions or leukocyte populations. In addition, as there is a much larger variety of these compounds, their homing properties enable the superimposition of dynamic variations of cell activity upon local, spatially limited, cell populations. This would in principle allow the targeting of potential treatments to restricted regions of the CNS. The proposed synergistic interface of 'tonic' kynurenine pathway affecting baseline activity and the superimposed 'phasic' cytokine system would constitute an integrated network explaining some features of neuroimmune communication. The concept would broaden the scope for the development of new treatments for disorders involving both the CNS and immune systems, with safer and more effective agents targeted to specific CNS regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W. Stone
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Trevor W. Stone,
| | - Felix I. L. Clanchy
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yi-Shu Huang
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nien-Yi Chiang
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - L. Gail Darlington
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ashtead Hospital, Ashtead, United Kingdom
| | - Richard O. Williams
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Costa MD, Maciel P. Modifier pathways in polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases: from genetic screens to drug targets. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:274. [PMID: 35503478 PMCID: PMC11071829 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases include a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by unstable expansions of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. Such genetic alterations produce abnormal proteins containing an unusually long PolyQ tract that renders them more prone to aggregate and cause toxicity. Although research in the field in the last years has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms implicated in these diseases, effective treatments are still lacking. In this review, we revisit work performed in models of PolyQ diseases, namely the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and provide a critical overview of the high-throughput unbiased genetic screens that have been performed using these systems to identify novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases. These approaches have revealed a wide variety of cellular processes that modulate the toxicity and aggregation of mutant PolyQ proteins, reflecting the complexity of these disorders and demonstrating how challenging the development of therapeutic strategies can be. In addition to the unbiased large-scale genetic screenings in non-vertebrate models, complementary studies in mammalian systems, closer to humans, have contributed with novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases, revealing neuronal function and inflammation as key disease modulators. A pathway enrichment analysis, using the human orthologues of genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases clustered modifier genes into major themes translatable to the human disease context, such as protein folding and transport as well as transcription regulation. Innovative genetic strategies of genetic manipulation, together with significant advances in genomics and bioinformatics, are taking modifier genetic studies to more realistic disease contexts. The characterization of PolyQ disease modifier pathways is of extreme relevance to reveal novel therapeutic possibilities to delay disease onset and progression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Daniela Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Huang Y, Zhao M, Chen X, Zhang R, Le A, Hong M, Zhang Y, Jia L, Zang W, Jiang C, Wang J, Fan X, Wang J. Tryptophan Metabolism in Central Nervous System Diseases: Pathophysiology and Potential Therapeutic Strategies. Aging Dis 2022; 14:858-878. [PMID: 37191427 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of L-tryptophan (TRP) regulates homeostasis, immunity, and neuronal function. Altered TRP metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various diseases of the central nervous system. TRP is metabolized through two main pathways, the kynurenine pathway and the methoxyindole pathway. First, TRP is metabolized to kynurenine, then kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, anthranilic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and finally 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid along the kynurenine pathway. Second, TRP is metabolized to serotonin and melatonin along the methoxyindole pathway. In this review, we summarize the biological properties of key metabolites and their pathogenic functions in 12 disorders of the central nervous system: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. Furthermore, we summarize preclinical and clinical studies, mainly since 2015, that investigated the metabolic pathway of TRP, focusing on changes in biomarkers of these neurologic disorders, their pathogenic implications, and potential therapeutic strategies targeting this metabolic pathway. This critical, comprehensive, and up-to-date review helps identify promising directions for future preclinical, clinical, and translational research on neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Morita N, Hoshi M, Hara T, Ninomiya S, Enoki T, Yoneda M, Tsurumi H, Saito K. Viability of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells is regulated by kynurenine 3-monooxygenase activity. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:790. [PMID: 34584567 PMCID: PMC8461759 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically heterogeneous lymphoid malignancy that is the most common type of lymphoma in Japan. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with DLBCL have a poor prognosis due to increased levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygnase and kynurenine (KYN). However, the roles of metabolites acting downstream of KYN and associated enzymes are not fully understood. The present study investigated the role of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), which catalyzes the conversion of KYN to 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), using serum samples from patients with DLBCL and human DLBCL cell lines with different KMO expression [STR-428 cells with high levels of KMO expression (KMOhigh) and KML-1 cells with low levels of KMO expression (KMOlow)]. Serum samples from 28 patients with DLBCL and 34 healthy volunteers were used to investigate the association between prognosis and KMO activity or 3-HK levels. Furthermore, to investigate the roles of KMO and its related metabolites, STR-428 and KML-1 cell lines, and the lymph nodes of patients with DLBCL were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR for KMO, KYNU, 3-hydroxyanthranilate-3,4-dioxygenase and quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase, by western blotting, and immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence staining for KMO, and by cell viability and NAD+/NADH assays. KYN pathway metabolites in serum samples were measured by HPLC. Serum 3-HK levels were regulated independently of serum KYN levels, and increased serum 3-HK levels and KMO activity were found to be associated with worse disease progression. Notably, the addition of KMO inhibitors and 3-HK negatively and positively regulated the viability of DLBCL cells, respectively. Furthermore, NAD+ levels in KMOhigh STR-428 cells were significantly higher than those in KMOlow KML-1 cells. These results suggested that 3-HK generated by KMO activity may be involved in the regulation of DLBCL cell viability via NAD+ synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanaka Morita
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Masato Hoshi
- Department of Biochemical and Analytical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hara
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Soranobu Ninomiya
- Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Taisuke Enoki
- Department of Educational Collaboration, Health and Safety Sciences, Osaka Kyoiku University, Kashiwara, Osaka 582-8285, Japan
| | - Misao Yoneda
- Department of Pathology, Suzuka University of Medical Sciences, Suzuka, Mie 510-0293, Japan
| | - Hisashi Tsurumi
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Saito
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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13
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Bai MY, Lovejoy DB, Guillemin GJ, Kozak R, Stone TW, Koola MM. Galantamine-Memantine Combination and Kynurenine Pathway Enzyme Inhibitors in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Complex Psychiatry 2021; 7:19-33. [PMID: 35141700 PMCID: PMC8443947 DOI: 10.1159/000515066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major route for L-tryptophan (L-TRP) metabolism, yielding a variety of bioactive compounds including kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), quinolinic acid (QUIN), and picolinic acid (PIC). These tryptophan catabolites are involved in the pathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly when the KP becomes dysregulated. Accordingly, the enzymes that regulate the KP such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)/tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs), and kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) represent potential drug targets as enzymatic inhibition can favorably rebalance KP metabolite concentrations. In addition, the galantamine-memantine combination, through its modulatory effects at the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, may counteract the effects of KYNA. The aim of this review is to highlight the effectiveness of IDO-1, KAT II, and KMO inhibitors, as well as the galantamine-memantine combination in the modulation of different KP metabolites. KAT II inhibitors are capable of decreasing the KYNA levels in the rat brain by a maximum of 80%. KMO inhibitors effectively reduce the central nervous system (CNS) levels of 3-HK, while markedly boosting the brain concentration of KYNA. Emerging data suggest that the galantamine-memantine combination also lowers L-TRP, kynurenine, KYNA, and PIC levels in humans. Presently, there are only 2 pathophysiological mechanisms (cholinergic and glutamatergic) that are FDA approved for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction for which purpose the galantamine-memantine combination has been designed for clinical use against Alzheimer's disease. The alpha7 nicotinic-NMDA hypothesis targeted by the galantamine-memantine combination has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various CNS diseases. Similarly, KYNA is well capable of modulating the neuropathophysiology of these disorders. This is known as the KYNA-centric hypothesis, which may be implicated in the management of certain neuropsychiatric conditions. In line with this hypothesis, KYNA may be considered as the "conductor of the orchestra" for the major pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CNS disorders. Therefore, there is great opportunity to further explore and compare the biological effects of these therapeutic modalities in animal models with a special focus on their effects on KP metabolites in the CNS and with the ultimate goal of progressing to clinical trials for many neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Y. Bai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroinflammation Group, Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David B. Lovejoy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroinflammation Group, Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gilles J. Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroinflammation Group, Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rouba Kozak
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Trevor W. Stone
- Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Maju Mathew Koola
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Novel promising serum biomarkers for canine mammary tumors. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s43538-021-00035-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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15
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Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening of Novel Competitive Inhibitors of the Neurodegenerative Disease Target Kynurenine-3-Monooxygenase. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113314. [PMID: 34073016 PMCID: PMC8199213 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Huntington’s disease has been associated with metabolic dysfunctions caused by imbalances in the brain and cerebral spinal fluid levels of neuroactive metabolites. Kynurenine monooxygenase (KMO) is considered an ideal therapeutic target for the regulation of neuroactive tryptophan metabolites. Despite significant efforts, the known KMO inhibitors lack blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and upon the mimicking of the substrate binding mode, are subject to produce reactive oxygen species as a side reaction. The computational drug design is further complicated by the absence of complete crystal structure information for human KMO (hKMO). In the current work, we performed virtual screening of readily available compounds using several protein–ligand complex pharmacophores. Each of the pharmacophores accounts for one of three distinct reported KMO protein-inhibitor binding conformations. As a result, six novel KMO inhibitors were discovered based on an in vitro fluorescence assay. Compounds VS1 and VS6 were predicted to be BBB permeable and avoid the hydrogen peroxide production dilemma, making them valuable, novel hit compounds for further drug property optimization and advancement in the drug design pipeline.
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Groth B, Venkatakrishnan P, Lin SJ. NAD + Metabolism, Metabolic Stress, and Infection. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:686412. [PMID: 34095234 PMCID: PMC8171187 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.686412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential metabolite with wide-ranging and significant roles in the cell. Defects in NAD+ metabolism have been associated with many human disorders; it is therefore an emerging therapeutic target. Moreover, NAD+ metabolism is perturbed during colonization by a variety of pathogens, either due to the molecular mechanisms employed by these infectious agents or by the host immune response they trigger. Three main biosynthetic pathways, including the de novo and salvage pathways, contribute to the production of NAD+ with a high degree of conservation from bacteria to humans. De novo biosynthesis, which begins with l-tryptophan in eukaryotes, is also known as the kynurenine pathway. Intermediates of this pathway have various beneficial and deleterious effects on cellular health in different contexts. For example, dysregulation of this pathway is linked to neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. Activation of the de novo pathway is also implicated in various infections and inflammatory signaling. Given the dynamic flexibility and multiple roles of NAD+ intermediates, it is important to understand the interconnections and cross-regulations of NAD+ precursors and associated signaling pathways to understand how cells regulate NAD+ homeostasis in response to various growth conditions. Although regulation of NAD+ homeostasis remains incompletely understood, studies in the genetically tractable budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae may help provide some molecular basis for how NAD+ homeostasis factors contribute to the maintenance and regulation of cellular function and how they are regulated by various nutritional and stress signals. Here we present a brief overview of recent insights and discoveries made with respect to the relationship between NAD+ metabolism and selected human disorders and infections, with a particular focus on the de novo pathway. We also discuss how studies in budding yeast may help elucidate the regulation of NAD+ homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Groth
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Padmaja Venkatakrishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Su-Ju Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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17
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Full-length in meso structure and mechanism of rat kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition. Commun Biol 2021; 4:159. [PMID: 33542467 PMCID: PMC7862291 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01666-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural mechanisms of single-pass transmembrane enzymes remain elusive. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a mitochondrial protein involved in the eukaryotic tryptophan catabolic pathway and is linked to various diseases. Here, we report the mammalian full-length structure of KMO in its membrane-embedded form, complexed with compound 3 (identified internally) and compound 4 (identified via DNA-encoded chemical library screening) at 3.0 Å resolution. Despite predictions suggesting that KMO has two transmembrane domains, we show that KMO is actually a single-pass transmembrane protein, with the other transmembrane domain lying laterally along the membrane, where it forms part of the ligand-binding pocket. Further exploration of compound 3 led to identification of the brain-penetrant compound, 5. We show that KMO is dimeric, and that mutations at the dimeric interface abolish its activity. These results will provide insight for the drug discovery of additional blood-brain-barrier molecules, and help illuminate the complex biology behind single-pass transmembrane enzymes.
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18
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Bhat A, Tan V, Heng B, Lovejoy DB, Sakharkar MK, Essa MM, Chidambaram SB, Guillemin GJ. Roflumilast, a cAMP-Specific Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitor, Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Synapse Functions in Human Cortical Neurons Exposed to the Excitotoxin Quinolinic Acid. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:4405-4415. [PMID: 33261317 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzymes is reported in several neurodegenerative diseases. PDE4 depletes cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and, in turn, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the key players in cognitive function. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism behind the protective effects of roflumilast (ROF), a cAMP-specific PDE4 inhibitor, against quinolinic acid (QUIN)-induced neurotoxicity using human primary cortical neurons. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using an MTS assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by DCF-DA and JC-10 staining, respectively. Caspase 3/7 activity was measured using an ApoTox-Glo Triplex assay kit. cAMP was measured using an ELISA kit. The protein expression of CREB, BDNF, SAP-97, synaptophysin, synapsin-I, and PSD-95 was analyzed by the Western blotting technique. QUIN exposure down-regulated CREB, BDNF, and synaptic protein expression in neurons. Pretreatment with ROF increased the intracellular cAMP, mitochondrial membrane potential, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) content and decreased the ROS and caspase 3/7 levels in QUIN-exposed neurons. ROF up-regulated the expression of synapse proteins SAP-97, synaptophysin, synapsin-I, PSD-95, and CREB and BDNF, which indicates its potential role in memory. This study suggests for the first time that QUIN causes pre- and postsynaptic protein damage. We further demonstrate the restorative effects of ROF on the mitochondrial membrane potential and antiapoptotic properties in human neurons. These data encourage further investigations to reposition ROF in neurodegenerative diseases and their associated cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Bhat
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Vanessa Tan
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Benjamin Heng
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - David B. Lovejoy
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Meena Kishore Sakharkar
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A2, Canada
| | - Musthafa Mohamed Essa
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, CAMS, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
- Ageing and Dementia Research Group, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Saravana Babu Chidambaram
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
- Centre for Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Central Animal Facility, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
| | - Gilles J. Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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Liu IL, Chung TF, Huang WH, Hsu CH, Liu CC, Chiu YH, Huang KC, Liao ATC, Lin CS. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression is involved in tumour proliferation and predicts poor survival in canine melanoma. Vet Comp Oncol 2020; 19:79-91. [PMID: 32720434 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Canine melanoma is a malignant tumour that exhibits aggressive behaviour, and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and distant sites. Currently, there are no effective treatments or practical prognostic biomarkers for canine melanoma. The enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), which plays a central role in the tryptophan metabolism, has previously been identified as the main pathogenic factor in neurodegenerative diseases; however, it has recently been found to be positively associated with tumour malignancy in human hepatocellular carcinoma and canine mammary tumours. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a well-known oncoprotein contributing to the proliferation, survival, invasiveness and metastasis of a variety of cancers. Although whether STAT3 and KMO collaborate in tumorigenesis needs to be further verified, our previous findings showed that inhibition of KMO activity reduced activation of STAT3. This study investigated the expressions of KMO and STAT3/phosphorylated (pSTAT3) by immunohistochemical analysis in 85 cases of canine melanoma, showing their expression levels were high within highly mitotic melanoma cells. KMO Overexpression was significantly associated with increased STAT3 and pSTAT3 expressions. Melanoma tissues with higher KMO, STAT3 and pSTAT3 protein expressions were correlated with reduced survival rates of the canine patients. Moreover, inhibition of KMO activity in canine melanoma cells resulted in reduced cell viability, in addition to decreased expressions of STAT3 and pSTAT3. Our results indicated the significance of KMO and the potential role of KMO/STAT3 interaction in enhancing tumour development. Additionally, KMO and STAT3/pSTAT3 may be viewed as useful biomarkers for the prediction of prognosis of canine melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Li Liu
- Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ting-Fang Chung
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chia-Hui Hsu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Chi Liu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yi-Han Chiu
- Department of Nursing, St. Mary's Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kuo-Chin Huang
- Holistic Education Center, Mackay Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Albert Tai-Ching Liao
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Animal Cancer Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chen-Si Lin
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Animal Cancer Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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20
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Beaupre BA, Reabe KR, Roman JV, Moran GR. Hydrogen movements in the oxidative half-reaction of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens reveal the mechanism of hydroxylation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 690:108474. [PMID: 32687799 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monoxygenase (KMO) catalyzes the conversion of l-kynurenine (L-Kyn) to 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHKyn) in the pathway for tryptophan catabolism. We have investigated the effects of pH and deuterium substitution on the oxidative half-reaction of KMO from P. fluorescens (PfKMO). The three phases observed during the oxidative half reaction are formation of the hydroperoxyflavin, hydroxylation and product release. The measured rate constants for these phases proved largely unchanging with pH, suggesting that the KMO active site is insulated from exchange with solvent during catalysis. A solvent inventory study indicated that a solvent isotope effect of 2-3 is observed for the hydroxylation phase and that two or more protons are in flight during this step. An inverse isotope effect of 0.84 ± 0.01 on the rate constant for the hydroxylation step with ring perdeutero-L-Kyn as a substrate indicates a shift from sp2 to sp3 hybridization in the transition state leading to the formation of a non-aromatic intermediate. The pH dependence of transient state data collected for the substrate analog meta-nitrobenzoylalanine indicate that groups proximal to the hydroperoxyflavin are titrated in the range pH 5-8.5 and can be described by a pKa of 8.8. That higher pH values do not slow the rate of hydroxylation precludes that the pKa measured pertains to the proton of the hydroperoxflavin. Together, these observations indicate that the C4a-hydroperoxyflavin has a pKa ≫ 8.5, that a non-aromatic species is the immediate product of hydroxylation and that at least two solvent derived protons are in-flight during oxygen insertion to the substrate aromatic ring. A unifying mechanistic proposal for these observations is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Beaupre
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1068 W Sheridan Rd, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Karen R Reabe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3210 N. Cramer Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53211-3029, USA
| | - Joseph V Roman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1068 W Sheridan Rd, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Graham R Moran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1068 W Sheridan Rd, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA.
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21
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Sundaram G, Lim CK, Brew BJ, Guillemin GJ. Kynurenine pathway modulation reverses the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse disease progression. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:176. [PMID: 32505212 PMCID: PMC7276083 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01844-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Activation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) results from acute and chronic neuroinflammation leading to both immune suppression and neurotoxicity. However, the exact effects of KP metabolites and changes in neurodegenerative diseases over time are not fully understood. Studies, including those in MS models, have reported that short-term KP activation is beneficial through immune tolerance. However, the effects of long-term KP activation are poorly understood. We hypothesized that such chronic activation is responsible for the neurodegeneration in MS, and further, modulating the KP in EAE-induced mice could significantly decrease the EAE disease severity. METHODS We biochemically altered the KP at different stages of the disease in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS and at two different enzymatic levels of the KP (IDO-1 (indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase)) and KMO (kynurenine monooxygenase). CNS tissue and blood samples were analyzed longitudinally using GCMS, HPLC, IHC, and RT-PCR. RESULTS We showed that the KP was steadily upregulated correlating with disease severity and associated with a shift towards increasing concentrations of the KP metabolite quinolinic acid, a neuro- and gliotoxin. KP modulation by inhibition of IDO-1 with 1-methyl tryptophan (1-MT) was dependent on the timing of treatment at various stages of EAE. IDO-1 inhibition at EAE score 2 led to significantly higher numbers of FoxP3 cells (p < 0.001) in the spleen than earlier IDO-1 inhibition (prophylactic 1-MT treatment group (p < 0.001)), 1-MT treatment after EAE induction (EAE score 0; p < 0.001), and 1-MT treatment at EAE score of 1 (p < 0.05). Significant improvement of disease severity was observed in EAE mice treated with 1-MT at EAE score 2 compared to the untreated group (p < 0.05). KP modulation by KMO inhibition with Ro 61-8048 led to significantly greater numbers of Foxp3 cells (p < 0.05) in Ro 61-8048 treated mice and even more significant amelioration of EAE disease compared to the 1-MT treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS These results provide a new mechanistic link between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration and point to KP modulation at the KMO level to preserve immune tolerance and limit neurodegeneration in EAE. They provide the foundation for new clinical trials for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Sundaram
- Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Chai K Lim
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Bruce J Brew
- Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
- St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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22
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Metabolomics Adaptation of Juvenile Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai to Heat Stress. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6353. [PMID: 32286374 PMCID: PMC7156721 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63122-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperature fluctuation is a key abiotic factor for the growth and survival of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai, particularly during climate change. However, the physiological mechanism underlying the abalones’ response to heat stress remains unknown. We sought to understand the metabolic adaptation mechanism of Pacific abalone to heat stress for further analyzing its heat tolerance capacity. For two groups experienced different acclimate temperature (10 °C and 30 °C for 62 days), the Pacific abalone juveniles displayed significantly different survival rates under 31 °C acute heat treatment. A total of 1815 and 1314 differential metabolites were identified from the 10 °C and 30 °C acclimate groups respectively, by comparing mass spectrometry data of the samples before and after heat stimulation. Heat stress led to mitochondrial failure, resulting in incomplete oxidative metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids in the mitochondria, and massive accumulation of unstable metabolic intermediates in cells. The 10 °C acclimated group accumulated more harmful substances after heat stimulation, provoking further stress responses and pathophysiological processes. In comparison, the 30 °C acclimated group showed stronger regulation capacity to produce beneficial substances for metabolic homeostasis. The findings provided insight into the heat response of marine animals, especially concerning mitochondrial metabolism.
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23
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Swainson LA, Ahn H, Pajanirassa P, Khetarpal V, Deleage C, Estes JD, Hunt PW, Munoz-Sanjuan I, McCune JM. Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Inhibition during Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Lowers PD-1 Expression and Improves Post-Combination Antiretroviral Therapy CD4 + T Cell Counts and Body Weight. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 203:899-910. [PMID: 31285277 PMCID: PMC6684450 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a key regulator of many important physiological processes and plays a harmful role in cancer, many neurologic conditions, and chronic viral infections. In HIV infection, KP activity is consistently associated with reduced CD4 T cell counts and elevated levels of T cell activation and viral load; it also independently predicts mortality and morbidity from non-AIDS events. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a therapeutically important target in the KP. Using the nonhuman primate model of SIV infection in rhesus macaques, we investigated whether KMO inhibition could slow the course of disease progression. We used a KMO inhibitor, CHDI-340246, to perturb the KP during early acute infection and followed the animals for 1 y to assess clinical outcomes and immune phenotype and function during pre-combination antiretroviral therapy acute infection and combination antiretroviral therapy-treated chronic infection. Inhibition of KMO in acute SIV infection disrupted the KP and prevented SIV-induced increases in downstream metabolites, improving clinical outcome as measured by both increased CD4+ T cell counts and body weight. KMO inhibition increased naive T cell frequency and lowered PD-1 expression in naive and memory T cell subsets. Importantly, early PD-1 expression during acute SIV infection predicted clinical outcomes of body weight and CD4+ T cell counts. Our data indicate that KMO inhibition in early acute SIV infection provides clinical benefit and suggest a rationale for testing KMO inhibition as an adjunctive treatment in SIV/HIV infection to slow the progression of the disease and improve immune reconstitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise A Swainson
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110;
| | - Haelee Ahn
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110
| | - Priya Pajanirassa
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110
| | | | - Claire Deleage
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Jacob D Estes
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Peter W Hunt
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110
| | | | - Joseph M McCune
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The objective of this article is to highlight the potential role of the galantamine-memantine combination as a novel antioxidant treatment for schizophrenia. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to the well-known mechanisms of action of galantamine and memantine, these medications also have antioxidant activity. Furthermore, an interplay exists between oxidative stress, inflammation (redox-inflammatory hypothesis), and kynurenine pathway metabolites. Also, there is an interaction between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxidative stress in schizophrenia. Oxidative stress may be associated with positive, cognitive, and negative symptoms and impairments in white matter integrity in schizophrenia. The antipsychotic-galantamine-memantine combination may provide a novel strategy in schizophrenia to treat positive, cognitive, and negative symptoms. SUMMARY A "single antioxidant" may be inadequate to counteract the complex cascade of oxidative stress. The galantamine-memantine combination as "double antioxidants" is promising. Hence, randomized controlled trials are warranted with the antipsychotic-galantamine-memantine combination with oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in schizophrenia.
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Subhramanyam CS, Wang C, Hu Q, Dheen ST. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 94:112-120. [PMID: 31077796 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 469] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microglia, being the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, play an important role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and contributes towards brain development under normal conditions. However, when there is a neuronal injury or other insult, depending on the type and magnitude of stimuli, microglia will be activated to secrete either proinflammatory factors that enhance cytotoxicity or anti-inflammatory neuroprotective factors that assist in wound healing and tissue repair. Excessive microglial activation damages the surrounding healthy neural tissue, and the factors secreted by the dead or dying neurons in turn exacerbate the chronic activation of microglia, causing progressive loss of neurons. It is the case observed in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This review gives a detailed account of the microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, resolving chronic inflammation mediated by microglia bears great promise as a novel treatment strategy to reduce neuronal damage and to foster a permissive environment for further regeneration effort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 4 Medical Drive, 117594, Singapore
| | - Qidong Hu
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 4 Medical Drive, 117594, Singapore.
| | - S Thameem Dheen
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 4 Medical Drive, 117594, Singapore.
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Overexpression of Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Correlates with Cancer Malignancy and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Canine Mammary Gland Tumors. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:6201764. [PMID: 31186637 PMCID: PMC6521384 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6201764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Tumor biomarkers are developed to indicate tumor status, clinical outcome, or prognosis. Since currently there are no effective biomarkers for canine mammary tumor (CMT), this study intended to verify whether kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), one of the key enzymes involved in tryptophan catabolism, is competent for predicting prognosis in patients with CMT. By investigating a series of 86 CMT clinical cases, we found that both gene and protein expression of KMO discriminated malignant from benign CMTs and was significantly higher in stage IV and V tumors than in lower-stage CMTs. About 73.7% of malignant CMTs showed strong expression of KMO which correlated with lower overall survival rates in patients. Further, downregulation of KMO activity significantly inhibited cell proliferation of CMT cells. Taken together, the findings indicated that KMO is a potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis, and this might open up new perspectives for clinical applications of CMT.
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Zheng X, Zhang A, Binnie M, McGuire K, Webster SP, Hughes J, Howie SEM, Mole DJ. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase is a critical regulator of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exp Mol Med 2019; 51:1-14. [PMID: 30760699 PMCID: PMC6374422 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-019-0210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) following ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) has a high mortality and lacks specific therapies. Here, we report that mice lacking kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) activity (Kmonull mice) are protected against AKI after renal IRI. We show that KMO is highly expressed in the kidney and exerts major metabolic control over the biologically active kynurenine metabolites 3-hydroxykynurenine, kynurenic acid, and downstream metabolites. In experimental AKI induced by kidney IRI, Kmonull mice had preserved renal function, reduced renal tubular cell injury, and fewer infiltrating neutrophils compared with wild-type (Kmowt) control mice. Together, these data confirm that flux through KMO contributes to AKI after IRI, and supports the rationale for KMO inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to protect against AKI during critical illness. Inhibition of a metabolic enzyme linked to inflammation could be a novel treatment approach for sudden kidney failure following a “reperfusion” injury caused by blood flow returning to the organ after a period of insufficient blood supply. Damian Mole and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, UK, temporarily blocked blood vessels leading to the kidneys of mice to induce organ damage. Mice that lacked a working copy of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a gene that encodes an enzyme involved in metabolizing an essential amino acid linked to immune activation, were protected from injury. These KMO-mutant mice experienced less damage to the kidney’s tubular cells and had fewer pro-inflammatory cells than genetically normal animals. The findings support the idea that blocking KMO and its associated metabolic pathway could help mitigate kidney damage following reperfusion injury in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhong Zheng
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Ailiang Zhang
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Margaret Binnie
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Kris McGuire
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Scott P Webster
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Jeremy Hughes
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Sarah E M Howie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Damian J Mole
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
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Tyebji S, Seizova S, Hannan AJ, Tonkin CJ. Toxoplasmosis: A pathway to neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 96:72-92. [PMID: 30476506 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that resides, in a latent form, in the human central nervous system. Infection with Toxoplasma drastically alters the behaviour of rodents and is associated with the incidence of specific neuropsychiatric conditions in humans. But the question remains: how does this pervasive human pathogen alter behaviour of the mammalian host? This fundamental question is receiving increasing attention as it has far reaching public health implications for a parasite that is very common in human populations. Our current understanding centres on neuronal changes that are elicited directly by this intracellular parasite versus indirect changes that occur due to activation of the immune system within the CNS, or a combination of both. In this review, we explore the interactions between Toxoplasma and its host, the proposed mechanisms and consequences on neuronal function and mental health, and discuss Toxoplasma infection as a public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Tyebji
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simona Seizova
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia.
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052, Australia.
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Hofer S, Kainz K, Zimmermann A, Bauer MA, Pendl T, Poglitsch M, Madeo F, Carmona-Gutierrez D. Studying Huntington's Disease in Yeast: From Mechanisms to Pharmacological Approaches. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:318. [PMID: 30233317 PMCID: PMC6131589 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive neuronal loss, provoking impaired motor control, cognitive decline, and dementia. So far, HD remains incurable, and available drugs are effective only for symptomatic management. HD is caused by a mutant form of the huntingtin protein, which harbors an elongated polyglutamine domain and is highly prone to aggregation. However, many aspects underlying the cytotoxicity of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) remain elusive, hindering the efficient development of applicable interventions to counteract HD. An important strategy to obtain molecular insights into human disorders in general is the use of eukaryotic model organisms, which are easy to genetically manipulate and display a high degree of conservation regarding disease-relevant cellular processes. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a long-standing and successful history in modeling a plethora of human maladies and has recently emerged as an effective tool to study neurodegenerative disorders, including HD. Here, we summarize some of the most important contributions of yeast to HD research, specifically concerning the elucidation of mechanistic features of mHTT cytotoxicity and the potential of yeast as a platform to screen for pharmacological agents against HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Hofer
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina Kainz
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Zimmermann
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Maria A. Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Tobias Pendl
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Poglitsch
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Frank Madeo
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
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Duan KM, Ma JH, Wang SY, Huang Z, Zhou Y, Yu H. The role of tryptophan metabolism in postpartum depression. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:647-660. [PMID: 29307018 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0178-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common postpartum psychiatric disorder, afflicting approximately 10%-20% of new mothers. Clinical symptoms of the PPD include depressive disorder, agitation, insomnia, anxiety and confusion, resulting in an increase in suicidal tendencies, thereby having significant impacts on the puerpera, newborn and their family. A growing body of data indicate a role for alterations in tryptophan metabolism in the PPD. The metabolism of tryptophan produces an array of crucial factors that can differentially regulate key physiological processes linked to the PPD. Importantly, an increase in stress hormones and immune-inflammatory activity drives tryptophan to the production of neuroregulatory kynurenine pathway products and away from the serotonin and melatonin pathways. This links the PPD to other disorders of depressed mood, which are classically associated with decreased serotonin and melatonin, coupled to increases in kynurenine pathway products. Several kynurenine pathway products, such as kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid, can have neuroregulatory effects, with consequences pathological underpinnings of the PPD. The current article reviews the role of alterations in tryptophan metabolism in the PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Ming Duan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Hui Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Sai-Ying Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha, 410078, People's Republic of China.
- Hunan Province Cooperation Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang, 421001, People's Republic of China.
| | - ZhengDong Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - YingYong Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - HeYa Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, People's Republic of China
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Sathyasaikumar KV, Breda C, Schwarcz R, Giorgini F. Assessing and Modulating Kynurenine Pathway Dynamics in Huntington's Disease: Focus on Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1780:397-413. [PMID: 29856028 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7825-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The link between disturbances in kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolism and Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis has been explored for a number of years. Several novel genetic and pharmacological tools have recently been developed to modulate key regulatory steps in the KP such as the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO). This insight has offered new options for exploring the mechanistic link between this metabolic pathway and HD, and provided novel opportunities for the development of candidate drug-like compounds. Here, we present an overview of the field, focusing on some novel approaches for interrogating the pathway experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korrapati V Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
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32
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Strasser B, Becker K, Fuchs D, Gostner JM. Kynurenine pathway metabolism and immune activation: Peripheral measurements in psychiatric and co-morbid conditions. Neuropharmacology 2017; 112:286-296. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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33
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Cuartero MI, de la Parra J, García-Culebras A, Ballesteros I, Lizasoain I, Moro MÁ. The Kynurenine Pathway in the Acute and Chronic Phases of Cerebral Ischemia. Curr Pharm Des 2016; 22:1060-73. [PMID: 25248805 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666151214125950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenines are a wide range of catabolites which derive from tryptophan through the "Kynurenine Pathway" (KP). In addition to its peripheral role, increasing evidence shows a role of the KP in the central nervous system (CNS), mediating both physiological and pathological functions. Indeed, an imbalance in this route has been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer´s and Huntington´s diseases. Altered KP catabolism has also been described during both acute and chronic phases of stroke; however the contribution of the KP to the pathophysiology of acute ischemic damage and of post-stroke disorders during the chronic phase including depression and vascular dementia, and the exact mechanisms implicated in the regulation of the KP after stroke are not well established yet. A better understanding of the regulation and activity of the KP after stroke could provide new pharmacological tools in both acute and chronic phases of stroke. In this review, we will make an overview of CNS modulation by the KP. We will detail the KP contribution in the ischemic damage, how the unbalance of the KP might trigger an alteration of the cognitive function after stroke as well as potential targets for the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Isabel Cuartero
- Unidad de Investigación Neurovascular, Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Kubo H, Hoshi M, Mouri A, Tashita C, Yamamoto Y, Nabeshima T, Saito K. Absence of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase reduces mortality of acute viral myocarditis in mice. Immunol Lett 2016; 181:94-100. [PMID: 27889626 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Infection of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) in mice is an established model for viral myocarditis. Previously, we have demonstrated that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an L-tryptophan - kynurenine pathway (KP) enzyme, affects acute viral myocarditis. However, the roles of KP metabolites in EMCV infection remain unclear. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is one of the key regulatory enzymes, which metabolizes kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine in the KP. Therefore, we examined the role of KMO in acute viral infection by comparing between KMO-/- mice and KMO+/+ mice. KMO deficiency resulted in suppressed mortality after EMCV infection. The number of infiltrating cells and F4/80+ cells in KMO-/- mice was suppressed compared with those in KMO+/+ mice. KMO-/- mice showed significantly increased levels of serum KP metabolites, and induction of KMO expression upon EMCV infection was involved in its effect on mortality through EMCV suppression. Furthermore, KMO-/- mice showed significantly suppression of CCL2, CCL3 and CCL4 on day 2 and CXCL1 on day 4 after infection. These results suggest that increased KP metabolites reduced chemokine production, resulting in suppressed mortality upon KMO knockdown in EMCV infection. KP metabolites may thus provide an effective strategy for treating acute viral myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisako Kubo
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Masato Hoshi
- Department of Biochemical and Analytical Sciences, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
| | - Akihiro Mouri
- Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Chieko Tashita
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Department of Medical Technology, Gifu University of Medical Science, Gifu 501-3892, Japan
| | - Yasuko Yamamoto
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Toshitaka Nabeshima
- Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Japanese Drug Organization of Appropriate Use and Research, Aichi 468-0069, Japan; Aino University, Osaka, Ibaragi 567-0012, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Saito
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan; Advanced Diagnostic System Research Laboratory, Fujita Health University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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Role of Microglia in Neurological Disorders and Their Potentials as a Therapeutic Target. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:7567-7584. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0245-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Mazarei G, Leavitt BR. Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 4:109-18. [PMID: 26397892 PMCID: PMC4923717 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-159003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Within the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the role of tryptophan (Trp) metabolites and the kynurenine pathway (KP) in diseases of the brain such as Huntington’s disease (HD). Evidence is accumulating to suggest that this pathway is imbalanced in neurologic disease states. The KP diverges into two branches that can lead to production of either neuroprotective or neurotoxic metabolites. In one branch, kynurenine (Kyn) produced as a result of tryptophan (Trp) catabolism is further metabolized to neurotoxic metabolites such as 3-hydroxykunurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid (QA). In the other branch, Kyn is converted to the neuroprotective metabolite kynurenic acid (KA). The enzyme Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO1) catalyzes the conversion of Trp into Kyn, the first and rate-limiting enzymatic step of the KP. This reaction takes place throughout the body in multiple cell types as a required step in the degradation of the essential amino acid Trp. Studies of IDO1 in brain have focused primarily on a potential role in depression, immune tolerance associated with brain tumours, and multiple sclerosis; however the role of this enzyme in neurodegenerative disease has garnered significant attention in recent years. This review will provide a summary of the current understanding of the role of IDO1 in Huntington’s disease and will assess this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gelareh Mazarei
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) inhibition ameliorates neurodegeneration by modulation of kynurenine pathway metabolites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:5435-40. [PMID: 27114543 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1604453113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolites of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan (TRP) degradation have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. Recent work has highlighted the therapeutic potential of inhibiting two critical regulatory enzymes in this pathway-kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO). Much evidence indicates that the efficacy of KMO inhibition arises from normalizing an imbalance between neurotoxic [3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK); quinolinic acid (QUIN)] and neuroprotective [kynurenic acid (KYNA)] KP metabolites. However, it is not clear if TDO inhibition is protective via a similar mechanism or if this is instead due to increased levels of TRP-the substrate of TDO. Here, we find that increased levels of KYNA relative to 3-HK are likely central to the protection conferred by TDO inhibition in a fruit fly model of Huntington's disease and that TRP treatment strongly reduces neurodegeneration by shifting KP flux toward KYNA synthesis. In fly models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, we provide genetic evidence that inhibition of TDO or KMO improves locomotor performance and ameliorates shortened life span, as well as reducing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's model flies. Critically, we find that treatment with a chemical TDO inhibitor is robustly protective in these models. Consequently, our work strongly supports targeting of the KP as a potential treatment strategy for several major neurodegenerative disorders and suggests that alterations in the levels of neuroactive KP metabolites could underlie several therapeutic benefits.
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38
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Abdel-Magid AF. Kynurenine Monooxygenase (KMO) Inhibitors for the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis and Neurodegenerative Disorders. ACS Med Chem Lett 2015; 6:954-5. [PMID: 26396678 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Jin H, Zhang Y, You H, Tao X, Wang C, Jin G, Wang N, Ruan H, Gu D, Huo X, Cong W, Qin W. Prognostic significance of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase and effects on proliferation, migration, and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10466. [PMID: 26099564 PMCID: PMC4479133 DOI: 10.1038/srep10466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a pivotal enzyme in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation and plays a critical role in Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases. This study aimed to examine the expression of KMO in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate the relationship between its expression and prognosis of HCC patients. We first analyzed KMO expression in 120 paired HCC samples (HCC tissues vs matched adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues), and 205 clinical HCC specimens using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were executed to evaluate the prognosis of HCC. The results of IHC analysis showed that KMO expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that in normal liver tissues (all p < 0.05). Survival and recurrence analyses showed that KMO was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) (both p<0.01). And in vitro studies revealed that KMO positively regulated proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results suggest that KMO exhibits tumor-promoting effects towards HCC and it may serve as a novel prognostic marker in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Yurong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Haiyan You
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Xuemei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Cun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Guangzhi Jin
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University
| | - Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Haoyu Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Dishui Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Xisong Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Wenming Cong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University
| | - Wenxin Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
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Wang Q, Liu D, Song P, Zou MH. Tryptophan-kynurenine pathway is dysregulated in inflammation, and immune activation. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2015; 20:1116-43. [PMID: 25961549 DOI: 10.2741/4363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The kynurenine (Kyn) pathway is the major route for tryptophan (Trp) metabolism, and it contributes to several fundamental biological processes. Trp is constitutively oxidized by tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase in liver cells. In other cell types, it is catalyzed by an alternative inducible indoleamine-pyrrole 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) under certain pathophysiological conditions, which consequently increases the formation of Kyn metabolites. IDO is up-regulated in response to inflammatory conditions as a novel marker of immune activation in early atherosclerosis. Besides, IDO and the IDO-related pathway are important mediators of the immunoinflammatory responses in advanced atherosclerosis. In particular, Kyn, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and quinolinic acid are positively associated with inflammation, oxidative stress (SOX), endothelial dysfunction, and carotid artery intima-media thickness values in end-stage renal disease patients. Moreover, IDO is a potential novel contributor to vessel relaxation and metabolism in systemic infections, which is also activated in acute severe heart attacks. The Kyn pathway plays a key role in the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease by regulating inflammation, SOX, and immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ming-Hui Zou
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA,
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41
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Rosas HD, Doros G, Bhasin S, Thomas B, Gevorkian S, Malarick K, Matson W, Hersch SM. A systems-level "misunderstanding": the plasma metabolome in Huntington's disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2015; 2:756-68. [PMID: 26273688 PMCID: PMC4531058 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of an N-terminal repeat in the huntingtin protein. The protein is expressed in all cells in the body; hence, peripheral tissues, such as blood, may recapitulate processes in the brain. The plasma metabolome may provide a window into active processes that influence brain health and a unique opportunity to noninvasively identify processes that may contribute to neurodegeneration. Alterations in metabolic pathways in brain have been shown to profoundly impact HD. Therefore, identification and quantification of critical metabolomic perturbations could provide novel biomarkers for disease onset and disease progression. Methods We analyzed the plasma metabolomic profiles from 52 premanifest (PHD), 102 early symptomatic HD, and 140 healthy controls (NC) using liquid chromatography coupled with a highly sensitive electrochemical detection platform. Results Alterations in tryptophan, tyrosine, purine, and antioxidant pathways were identified, including many related to energetic and oxidative stress and derived from the gut microbiome. Multivariate statistical modeling demonstrated mutually distinct metabolomic profiles, suggesting that the processes that determine onset were likely distinct from those that determine progression. Gut microbiome-derived metabolites particularly differentiated the PHD metabolome, while the symptomatic HD metabolome was increasingly influenced by metabolites that may reflect mutant huntingtin toxicity and neurodegeneration. Interpretation Understanding the complex changes in the delicate balance of the metabolome and the gut microbiome in HD, and how they relate to disease onset, progression, and phenotypic variability in HD are critical questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herminia D Rosas
- Department of Neurology Boston, Massachusetts ; Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases Boston, Massachusetts ; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Charlestown, Massachusetts ; Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gheorghe Doros
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Swati Bhasin
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Beena Thomas
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Sona Gevorkian
- Department of Neurology Boston, Massachusetts ; Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases Boston, Massachusetts ; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Keith Malarick
- Department of Neurology Boston, Massachusetts ; Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases Boston, Massachusetts ; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Wayne Matson
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Steven M Hersch
- Department of Neurology Boston, Massachusetts ; MassGeneral Institutes for Neurodegenerative Disease, Laboratory of Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts
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Lood C, Tydén H, Gullstrand B, Klint C, Wenglén C, Nielsen CT, Heegaard NHH, Jönsen A, Kahn R, Bengtsson AA. Type I interferon-mediated skewing of the serotonin synthesis is associated with severe disease in systemic lupus erythematosus. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125109. [PMID: 25897671 PMCID: PMC4405357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonin, a highly pro-inflammatory molecule released by activated platelets, is formed by tryptophan. Tryptophan is also needed in the production of kynurenine, a process mediated by the type I interferon (IFN)-regulated rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). The aim of this study was to investigate levels of serotonin in patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), association to clinical phenotype and possible involvement of IDO in regulation of serotonin synthesis. Serotonin levels were measured in serum and plasma from patients with SLE (n=148) and healthy volunteers (n=79) by liquid chromatography and ELISA, as well as intracellularly in platelets by flow cytometry. We found that SLE patients had decreased serotonin levels in serum (p=0.01) and platelets (p<0.0001) as compared to healthy individuals. SLE patients with ongoing type I IFN activity, as determined by an in-house reporter assay, had decreased serum levels of serotonin (p=0.0008) as well as increased IDO activity (p<0.0001), as determined by the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio measured by liquid chromatography. Furthermore, SLE sera induced IDO expression in WISH cells in a type I IFN-dependent manner (p=0.008). Also platelet activation contributed to reduce overall availability of serotonin levels in platelets and serum (p<0.05). Decreased serum serotonin levels were associated with severe SLE with presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies and nephritis. In all, reduced serum serotonin levels in SLE patients were related to severe disease phenotype, including nephritis, suggesting involvement of important immunopathological processes. Further, our data suggest that type I IFNs, present in SLE sera, are able to up-regulate IDO expression, which may lead to decreased serum serotonin levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lood
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Helena Tydén
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Gullstrand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine Lund, Section of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Christoffer T. Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Genetics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels H. H. Heegaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Genetics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Jönsen
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Robin Kahn
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders A. Bengtsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section of Rheumatology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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Toledo-Sherman LM, Prime ME, Mrzljak L, Beconi MG, Beresford A, Brookfield FA, Brown CJ, Cardaun I, Courtney SM, Dijkman U, Hamelin-Flegg E, Johnson PD, Kempf V, Lyons K, Matthews K, Mitchell WL, O'Connell C, Pena P, Powell K, Rassoulpour A, Reed L, Reindl W, Selvaratnam S, Friley WW, Weddell DA, Went NE, Wheelan P, Winkler C, Winkler D, Wityak J, Yarnold CJ, Yates D, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Dominguez C. Development of a series of aryl pyrimidine kynurenine monooxygenase inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of Huntington's disease. J Med Chem 2015; 58:1159-83. [PMID: 25590515 DOI: 10.1021/jm501350y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We report on the development of a series of pyrimidine carboxylic acids that are potent and selective inhibitors of kynurenine monooxygenase and competitive for kynurenine. We describe the SAR for this novel series and report on their inhibition of KMO activity in biochemical and cellular assays and their selectivity against other kynurenine pathway enzymes. We describe the optimization process that led to the identification of a program lead compound with a suitable ADME/PK profile for therapeutic development. We demonstrate that systemic inhibition of KMO in vivo with this lead compound provides pharmacodynamic evidence for modulation of kynurenine pathway metabolites both in the periphery and in the central nervous system.
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44
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Mason RP, Breda C, Kooner GS, Mallucci GR, Kyriacou CP, Giorgini F. Modeling Huntington Disease in Yeast and Invertebrates. Mov Disord 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-405195-9.00033-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Green EW, Campesan S, Breda C, Sathyasaikumar KV, Muchowski PJ, Schwarcz R, Kyriacou CP, Giorgini F. Drosophila eye color mutants as therapeutic tools for Huntington disease. Fly (Austin) 2014; 6:117-20. [DOI: 10.4161/fly.19999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Francelle L, Galvan L, Brouillet E. Possible involvement of self-defense mechanisms in the preferential vulnerability of the striatum in Huntington's disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:295. [PMID: 25309327 PMCID: PMC4176035 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HD is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene that consists in a CAG repeat expansion translated into an abnormal poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract in the huntingtin (Htt) protein. The most striking neuropathological finding in HD is the atrophy of the striatum. The regional expression of mutant Htt (mHtt) is ubiquitous in the brain and cannot explain by itself the preferential vulnerability of the striatum in HD. mHtt has been shown to produce an early defect in transcription, through direct alteration of the function of key regulators of transcription and in addition, more indirectly, as a result of compensatory responses to cellular stress. In this review, we focus on gene products that are preferentially expressed in the striatum and have down- or up-regulated expression in HD and, as such, may play a crucial role in the susceptibility of the striatum to mHtt. Many of these striatal gene products are for a vast majority down-regulated and more rarely increased in HD. Recent research shows that some of these striatal markers have a pro-survival/neuroprotective role in neurons (e.g., MSK1, A2A, and CB1 receptors) whereas others enhance the susceptibility of striatal neurons to mHtt (e.g., Rhes, RGS2, D2 receptors). The down-regulation of these latter proteins may be considered as a potential self-defense mechanism to slow degeneration. For a majority of the striatal gene products that have been identified so far, their function in the striatum is unknown and their modifying effects on mHtt toxicity remain to be experimentally addressed. Focusing on these striatal markers may contribute to a better understanding of HD pathogenesis, and possibly the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Francelle
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Laurie Galvan
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) is a well-established eukaryotic model organism, which has significantly contributed to our understanding of mechanisms that drive numerous core cellular processes in higher eukaryotes. Moreover, this has led to a greater understanding of the underlying pathobiology associated with disease in humans. This tractable model offers an abundance of analytical capabilities, including a vast array of global genetics and molecular resources that allow genome-wide screening to be carried out relatively simply and cheaply. A prime example of the versatility and potential for applying yeast technologies to explore a mammalian disease is in the development of yeast models for amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's. The present chapter provides a broad overview of high profile human neurodegenerative diseases that have been modelled in yeast. We focus on some of the most recent findings that have been developed through genetic and drug screening studies using yeast genomic resources. Although this relatively simple unicellular eukaryote seems far removed from relatively complex multicellular organisms such as mammals, the conserved mechanisms for how amyloid exhibits toxicity clearly underscore the value of carrying out such studies in yeast.
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Reyes Ocampo J, Lugo Huitrón R, González-Esquivel D, Ugalde-Muñiz P, Jiménez-Anguiano A, Pineda B, Pedraza-Chaverri J, Ríos C, Pérez de la Cruz V. Kynurenines with neuroactive and redox properties: relevance to aging and brain diseases. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2014; 2014:646909. [PMID: 24693337 PMCID: PMC3945746 DOI: 10.1155/2014/646909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main route of tryptophan degradation whose final product is NAD(+). The metabolism of tryptophan can be altered in ageing and with neurodegenerative process, leading to decreased biosynthesis of nicotinamide. This fact is very relevant considering that tryptophan is the major source of body stores of the nicotinamide-containing NAD(+) coenzymes, which is involved in almost all the bioenergetic and biosynthetic metabolism. Recently, it has been proposed that endogenous tryptophan and its metabolites can interact and/or produce reactive oxygen species in tissues and cells. This subject is of great importance due to the fact that oxidative stress, alterations in KP metabolites, energetic deficit, cell death, and inflammatory events may converge each other to enter into a feedback cycle where each one depends on the other to exert synergistic actions among them. It is worth mentioning that all these factors have been described in aging and in neurodegenerative processes; however, has so far no one established any direct link between alterations in KP and these factors. In this review, we describe each kynurenine remarking their redox properties, their effects in experimental models, their alterations in the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Reyes Ocampo
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Rafael Lugo Huitrón
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Dinora González-Esquivel
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Perla Ugalde-Muñiz
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Anabel Jiménez-Anguiano
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Pineda
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - José Pedraza-Chaverri
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Camilo Ríos
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Verónica Pérez de la Cruz
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
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Giorgini F, Huang SY, Sathyasaikumar KV, Notarangelo FM, Thomas MAR, Tararina M, Wu HQ, Schwarcz R, Muchowski PJ. Targeted deletion of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase in mice: a new tool for studying kynurenine pathway metabolism in periphery and brain. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:36554-66. [PMID: 24189070 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.503813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a pivotal enzyme in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, has been suggested to play a major role in physiological and pathological events involving bioactive KP metabolites. To explore this role in greater detail, we generated mice with a targeted genetic disruption of Kmo and present here the first biochemical and neurochemical characterization of these mutant animals. Kmo(-/-) mice lacked KMO activity but showed no obvious abnormalities in the activity of four additional KP enzymes tested. As expected, Kmo(-/-) mice showed substantial reductions in the levels of its enzymatic product, 3-hydroxykynurenine, in liver, brain, and plasma. Compared with wild-type animals, the levels of the downstream metabolite quinolinic acid were also greatly decreased in liver and plasma of the mutant mice but surprisingly were only slightly reduced (by ∼20%) in the brain. The levels of three other KP metabolites: kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and anthranilic acid, were substantially, but differentially, elevated in the liver, brain, and plasma of Kmo(-/-) mice, whereas the liver and brain content of the major end product of the enzymatic cascade, NAD(+), did not differ between Kmo(-/-) and wild-type animals. When assessed by in vivo microdialysis, extracellular kynurenic acid levels were found to be significantly elevated in the brains of Kmo(-/-) mice. Taken together, these results provide further evidence that KMO plays a key regulatory role in the KP and indicate that Kmo(-/-) mice will be useful for studying tissue-specific functions of individual KP metabolites in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaviano Giorgini
- From the Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
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Iaccarino HF, Suckow RF, Xie S, Bucci DJ. The effect of transient increases in kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid levels early in life on behavior in adulthood: Implications for schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2013; 150:392-7. [PMID: 24091034 PMCID: PMC3844520 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenic acid is a tryptophan metabolite that is synthesized and released in the brain by astrocytes and acts as an antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors, both of which are critically involved in cognition as well as neural plasticity and brain development. The concentration of kynurenic acid is increased in the brains of persons with schizophrenia and this increase has been implicated in the cognitive and social impairments associated with the disease. In addition, growing evidence suggests that the increase in kynurenic acid may begin early in life. For example, exposure to influenza A virus during development results in a transient increase in kynurenic acid concentration that could disrupt normal brain development and lead to cognitive deficits later in life. Changes in kynurenic acid may thus provide a link between developmental exposure to viruses and the increased risk of subsequently developing schizophrenia. To test this, we mimicked the effects of influenza A exposure by treating rats with kynurenine, the precursor of kynurenic acid, on postnatal days 7-10. We observed a transient increase in both kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid during treatment. When rats were subsequently behaviorally tested as adults, those previously treated with kynurenine exhibited decreased social behavior and locomotor activity. In contrast, attentional function and fear conditioning were not affected. Together with other recent findings, these data have several implications for understanding how viral-induced changes in tryptophan metabolism during development may contribute to schizophrenia-related symptoms later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah F. Iaccarino
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
| | | | - Shan Xie
- Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, New York 10962
| | - David J. Bucci
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
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