Journal
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Volume 2, Issue 3-4, Pages 166-176Publisher
KARGER
DOI: 10.1159/000089622
Keywords
Kynurenine pathway; Quinolinic acid; ALS, toxicity pathways
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Funding
- St. Vincent's Clinic Foundation
- NHMRC
- Australian Alzheimer Foundation
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of New South Wales
- Baxter Foundation
- New South Wales Health Department
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The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major route of L-tryptophan catabolism leading to production of several neurobiologically active molecules. Among them is the excitotoxin quinolinic acid (QUIN) that is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of several major inflammatory neurological diseases. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) degeneration of motor neurons is associated with a chronic and local infl ammation (presence of activated microglia and astrocytes). There is emerging evidence that the KP is important in ALS. Recently, we demonstrated that QUIN is significantly increased in serum and CSF of ALS patients. Moreover, most of the factors associated with QUIN toxicity are found in ALS, implying that QUIN may play a substantial role in the neuropathogenesis of ALS. This review details the potential role the KP has in ALS and advances a testable hypothetical model. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel
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