ArticleThe Journal of allergy and clinical immunology2016
The tryptophan metabolism enzyme L-kynureninase is a novel inflammatory factor in psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.
Article in The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 77 papers.
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Who cites it
77 citing papers in PubMed, 149 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tryptophan Metabolism in Digestive and Extra-Digestive Diseases: Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Therapeutic Perspectives.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Tryptophan metabolism in psoriasis and its complications: Future opportunities.Journal of advanced research · 2026Review
- Tryptophan Metabolism at the Crossroads of Immunity, Barrier Function, and the Microbiome in Atopic Dermatitis.Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology · 2026Review
- Evidence Based on Sleep Disorder Exacerbating Postoperative Pain via Kynureninase.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Article
- Article
- Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling of Skin Lesions from Psoriasis Patients Reveals Disease Signatures.International journal of biological sciences · 2026Article
- Qing-Re-Qu-Shi formula improves clinical outcomes and is accompanied by gut microbiota and microbial metabolite remodeling in adults with moderate atopic dermatitis: a randomized placebo-controlled multi-omics trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Review
- Psoriasis harbors multiple pathogenic type 17 T-cell subsets: Selective modulation by risankizumab.The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology · 2025Article
- Tumor Microenvironment On-A-Chip and Single-Cell Analysis Reveal Synergistic Stromal-Immune Crosstalk on Breast Cancer Progression.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Article
- Peripheral Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites in Patients with Psoriasis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- The Kynurenine Pathway and Indole Pathway in Tryptophan Metabolism Influence Tumor Progression.Cancer medicine · 2025Review
- Article
- Proteomic analysis identifies novel biological pathways that may link dietary quality to type 2 diabetes risk: evidence from African American and Asian cohorts.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2025Article
- Targeting Kynureninase Attenuates Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury via MAPK Signaling Suppression.Mediators of inflammation · 2025Article
- Article
- Characteristics ofHeliyon · 2024Article
- Article
- Characterization of Inflammatory Mediators and Metabolome in Interstitial Fluid Collected with Dermal Open Flow Microperfusion before and at the End of Dupilumab Treatment in Atopic Dermatitis.Journal of proteome research · 2024Article
- Effects of Prepartum L-Tryptophan Supplementation on the Postpartum Performance of Holstein Cows.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
17 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMany human diseases arise from or have pathogenic contributions from a dysregulated immune response. One pathway with immunomodulatory ability is the tryptophan metabolism pathway, which promotes immune suppression through the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and subsequent production of kynurenine. However, in patients with chronic inflammatory skin disease, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD), another tryptophan metabolism enzyme downstream of IDO, L-kynureninase (KYNU), is heavily upregulated. The role of KYNU has not been explored in patients with these skin diseases or in general human immunology.
objectiveWe sought to explore the expression and potential immunologic function of the tryptophan metabolism enzyme KYNU in inflammatory skin disease and its potential contribution to general human immunology.
methodsPsoriatic skin biopsy specimens, as well as normal human skin, blood, and primary cells, were used to investigate the immunologic role of KYNU and tryptophan metabolites.
resultsHere we show that KYNU(+) cells, predominantly of myeloid origin, infiltrate psoriatic lesional skin. KYNU expression positively correlates with disease severity and inflammation and is reduced on successful treatment of psoriasis or AD. Tryptophan metabolites downstream of KYNU upregulate several cytokines, chemokines, and cell adhesions. By mining data on several human diseases, we found that in patients with cancer, IDO is preferentially upregulated compared with KYNU, whereas in patients with inflammatory diseases, such as AD, KYNU is preferentially upregulated compared with IDO.
conclusionOur results suggest that tryptophan metabolism might dichotomously modulate immune responses, with KYNU as a switch between immunosuppressive versus inflammatory outcomes. Although tryptophan metabolism is increased in many human diseases, how tryptophan metabolism is proceeding might qualitatively affect the immune response in patients with that disease.
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