Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Pathophysiologic and Therapeutic Considerations.

ABSTRACT: Under physiological conditions 95% of the ingested essential amino acid tryptophan is metabolized by the kynurenine pathway (KP) to yield the ubiquitous co-enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, fulfilling cellular energy requirements. Importantly, the intermediaries of KP exert crucial effects throughout the body, including the central nervous system. Besides, KP metabolites are implicated in diverse disease processes such as inflammation/immune disorders, endocrine/metabolic conditions, cancers and neuropsychiatric diseases. A burgeoning body of research indicates that the KP plays a pathogenic role in major psychiatric diseases like mood disorders and schizophrenia. Triggered by inflammatory processes, the balance between neurotoxic and neuroprotective branches of the KP is disturbed

SUBMITTER: Muneer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7609208 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature