Elsevier

Drug Discovery Today

Volume 26, Issue 6, June 2021, Pages 1473-1481
Drug Discovery Today

Review
Post-Green
Inflammation control and improvement of cognitive function in COVID-19 infections: is there a role for kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.009Get rights and content

Highlights

  • The majority of tryptophan is metabolised through the kynurenine pathway in mammals.

  • Several kynurenine metabolites are neuroactive and modulate inflammation.

  • The kynurenine pathway is activated in patients with COVID-19.

  • Compounds have been developed that modulate kynurenine pathway by inhibiting kynurenine3-monooxygenase.

  • These inhibitors may be beneficial in COVID-19 by reducing inflammation.

The novel respiratory virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerged during late 2019 and spread rapidly across the world. It is now recognised that the nervous system can be affected in COVID-19, with several studies reporting long-term cognitive problems in patients. The metabolic pathway of tryptophan degradation, known as the kynurenine pathway (KP), is significantly activated in patients with COVID-19. KP metabolites have roles in regulating both inflammatory/immune responses and neurological functions. In this review, we speculate on the effects of KP activation in patients with COVID-19, and how modulation of this pathway might impact inflammation and reduce neurological symptoms.

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