Quinolinate as a Marker for Kynurenine Metabolite Formation and the Unresolved Question of NAD⁺ Synthesis During Inflammation and Infection.

ABSTRACT: Quinolinate (Quin) is a classic example of a biochemical double-edged sword, acting as both essential metabolite and potent neurotoxin. Quin is an important metabolite in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan catabolism leading to the de novo synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺). As a precursor for NAD⁺, Quin can direct a portion of tryptophan catabolism toward replenishing cellular NAD⁺ levels in response to inflammation and infection. Intracellular Quin levels increase dramatically in response to immune stimulation [e.g., lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM)] in macrophages, microglia, dendritic cells, and other cells of the immune system. NAD⁺ serves numerous functions including energy production, the poly

SUBMITTER: Moffett JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7047773 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature