Abstract
Substantial evidence indicates that neuroactive kynurenine metabolites play a role in the normal physiology of the human brain, and are involved in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons disease and Huntingtons disease. A side-arm product of the pathway, kynurenic acid (KYNA), which is synthesized by the irreversible transamination of kynurenine (KYN) by kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT I and KAT II), is an excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist. In the present study, we measured the level of KYNA and the activities of the biosynthetic enzyme isoforms KAT I and KAT II in the plasma and in the erythrocytes (RBCs) of patients with cervical dystonia or blepharospasm and in age-matched controls. The KAT I and KAT II activities were significantly lower in the plasma of the patients in both subgroups. In the RBCs, only the KAT I activity was elevated significantly. The KYNA concentration was unchanged in both type of patients. These data support the contribution of an altered kynurenine metabolism to the pathogenesis of focal dystonia.
Keywords: Cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, kynurenine aminotransferase, kynurenic acid, excitotoxicity
Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Peripheral Kynurenine Metabolism in Focal Dystonia
Volume: 3 Issue: 3
Author(s): Zsuzsanna Hartai, Peter Klivenyi, Tamas Janaky, Botond Penke, Laszlo Dux and Laszlo Vecsei
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, kynurenine aminotransferase, kynurenic acid, excitotoxicity
Abstract: Substantial evidence indicates that neuroactive kynurenine metabolites play a role in the normal physiology of the human brain, and are involved in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsons disease and Huntingtons disease. A side-arm product of the pathway, kynurenic acid (KYNA), which is synthesized by the irreversible transamination of kynurenine (KYN) by kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT I and KAT II), is an excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist. In the present study, we measured the level of KYNA and the activities of the biosynthetic enzyme isoforms KAT I and KAT II in the plasma and in the erythrocytes (RBCs) of patients with cervical dystonia or blepharospasm and in age-matched controls. The KAT I and KAT II activities were significantly lower in the plasma of the patients in both subgroups. In the RBCs, only the KAT I activity was elevated significantly. The KYNA concentration was unchanged in both type of patients. These data support the contribution of an altered kynurenine metabolism to the pathogenesis of focal dystonia.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hartai Zsuzsanna, Klivenyi Peter, Janaky Tamas, Penke Botond, Dux Laszlo and Vecsei Laszlo, Peripheral Kynurenine Metabolism in Focal Dystonia, Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 3 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340607780620707
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340607780620707 |
Print ISSN 1573-4064 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6638 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Carbohydrates in Computational and Medicinal Chemistry
Carbohydrates are the most essential organic molecules and are involved in the maintenance of various physiological and metabolic processes in living organisms. Carbohydrate-based compounds have come to the attention of researchers because of their significant contributions to biological functions, such as cell development and cell proliferation, connections between several cells, ...read more
Recent Advances in the Medicinal Chemistry of Cancer
Scope of the Thematic Issue: Correlation between structure and function is one of the important aspects of the success of anti-cancer compounds associated with their structure-activity interactions, physiology, biochemical, molecular, and genetic processes. Overcoming these obstacles is key to obtaining further insights into developments in rational drug design, bioorganic chemistry, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Allosteric Modulation of G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Current Pharmaceutical Design Uridine Function in the Central Nervous System
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Can't Always Get What you Want? Try an Indirect Route you Just Might Get What you Need: A Study on Access to Genetic Data by Canadian Life Insurers
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Polyglutamine and Neurodegeneration: Structural Aspects
Protein & Peptide Letters Sirtuins as Possible Targets in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Drug Targets The Role of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and α7-Specific Antibodies in Neuroinflammation Related to Alzheimer Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hydrophobic Plant Antioxidants. Preparation of Nanoparticles and their Application for Prevention of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Review and Experimental Data
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Bridging Over the Troubled Heterogeneity of SPG-Related Pathologies: Mechanisms Unite What Genetics Divide
Current Molecular Medicine Novel Insights for Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders with Apoptosis, Autophagy, FoxO, and mTOR
Current Neurovascular Research The Genetics of Frontotemporal Dementia and Related Disorders
Current Genomics Inhibition of Autophagy Potentiated Hippocampal Cell Death Induced by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and its Activation by Trehalose Failed to be Neuroprotective
Current Neurovascular Research Depressed or Demented: Common CNS Drug Targets? !
Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders Untapped Potential of Disordered Proteins in Current Druggable Human Proteome
Current Drug Targets Editorial [Hot Topic: A Role for Immunophilins in Cellular Signalling in Health and Disease (Guest Editors: Juan Antonio Rosado Dionisio and Pedro Cosme Redondo Liberal)]
Current Medicinal Chemistry Small Molecule Antagonists of the Chemokine Receptor CCR5
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Effects of Proteoglycans on Oxidative/Nitrative Stress
Current Organic Chemistry Antiglycation Activity of Triazole Schiff’s Bases Against Fructosemediated Glycation: In Vitro and In Silico Study
Medicinal Chemistry Association Studies of Sporadic Parkinson’s Disease in the Genomic Era
Current Genomics Procedure for Identification and Characterization of Drugs Efficient Against Mammalian Prion: From a Yeast-Based Antiprion Drug Screening Assay to In Vivo Mouse Models
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets An Up-to-Date Review on Citrus Flavonoids: Chemistry and Benefits in Health and Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design