Targeting Tryptophan Metabolism for Tuberculosis Biomarkers and Host-Directed Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Greater understanding of the role of tryptophan metabolism in the immune response to tuberculosis (TB) has provided promising avenues to explore new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that host indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is upregulated in response to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, resulting in increased tryptophan metabolism to kynurenine. In TB disease, this is evidenced by elevation of the plasma kynurenine to tryptophan ratio, which is reversed with effective TB treatment, thus showing utility as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker. Kynurenine and downstream metabolites promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment in TB granulomas, which may facilitate immune evasion. IDO inhibition in nonhuman primates h

SUBMITTER: Collins JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12573232 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature