Challenges and Opportunities in the Discovery of New Therapeutics Targeting the Kynurenine Pathway

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• 作者：Amy B. Dounay ; Jamison B. Tuttle ; Patrick R. Verhoest
• 刊名：Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
• 出版年：2015
• 出版时间：November 25, 2015
• 年：2015
• 卷：58
• 期：22
• 页码：8762-8782
• 全文大小：994K
• ISSN：1520-4804

文摘

The kynurenine pathway is responsible for the metabolism of more than 95% of dietary tryptophan (TRP) and produces numerous bioactive metabolites. Recent studies have focused on three enzymes in this pathway: indoleamine dioxygenase (IDO1), kynurenine monooxygenase (KMO), and kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II). IDO1 inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, and these agents may also have therapeutic utility in neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis. KMO inhibitors are being investigated as potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington鈥檚 and Alzheimer鈥檚 diseases. KAT II inhibitors have been proposed in new therapeutic approaches toward psychiatric and cognitive disorders, including cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Numerous medicinal chemistry studies are currently aimed at the design of novel, potent, and selective inhibitors for each of these enzymes. The emerging opportunities and significant challenges associated with pharmacological modulation of these enzymes will be explored in this review.