University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA. rschwarc@mprc. umaryland.edu
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2012 Jul;13(7):465-77. doi: 10.1038/nrn3257.
The essential amino acid tryptophan is not only a precursor of serotonin but is also degraded to several other neuroactive compounds, including kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine and quinolinic acid. The synthesis of these metabolites is regulated by an enzymatic cascade, known as the kynurenine pathway, that is tightly controlled by the immune system. Dysregulation of this pathway, resulting in hyper-or hypofunction of active metabolites, is associated with neurodegenerative and other neurological disorders, as well as with psychiatric diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. With recently developed pharmacological agents, it is now possible to restore metabolic equilibrium and envisage novel therapeutic interventions.
必需氨基酸色氨酸不仅是 5-羟色胺的前体，还可降解为几种其他神经活性化合物，包括犬尿氨酸、3-羟基犬尿氨酸和喹啉酸。这些代谢物的合成受称为犬尿氨酸途径的酶级联反应调控，该途径受免疫系统严格控制。该途径的失调导致活性代谢物的功能亢进或功能低下，与神经退行性疾病和其他神经疾病以及精神疾病如抑郁症和精神分裂症有关。最近开发的药理学制剂现在可以恢复代谢平衡，并设想新的治疗干预措施。
