Targeting Kynureninase Attenuates Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury via MAPK Signaling Suppression.

ABSTRACT: Kynureninase (KYNU), a key enzyme in the tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic pathway, has been increasingly recognized for its role in immune regulation and inflammation. However, its involvement in radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a significant upregulation of KYNU expression in the colonic tissues of mice with RIII using transcriptomic analysis and experimental validation. Functional assays demonstrated that KYNU knockdown in NCM460 human intestinal epithelial cells attenuated radiation-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress, while promoting cell proliferation. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that KYNU regulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway

SUBMITTER: Liu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12473747 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature