Abstract Title:

Increased degradation of tryptophan in blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Source:

J Rheumatol. 2003 Sep;30(9):1935-9. PMID: 12966593

Abstract Author(s):

Katharina Schroecksnadel, Sabine Kaser, Maximilian Ledochowski, Gabriele Neurauter, Erich Mur, Manfred Herold, Dietmar Fuchs

Article Affiliation:

Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck, Fritz Pregl Strasse 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Activation of the enzyme indoleamine-(2,3)-dioxygenase (IDO) by interferon (IFN)-g leads to enhanced tryptophan conversion to kynurenine. In consequence of chronic immune activation, tryptophan availability is reduced, leading to inhibition of cell proliferation as protein synthesis is affected. Tryptophan deprivation due to IDO activation could therefore be effective in abrogating processes with high metabolic turnover, thus modulating cellular immune response. METHODS: Concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine, and neopterin were measured by HPLC in the sera of 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The kynurenine:tryptophan ratios (kyn/trp) were calculated to estimate IDO activity. RESULTS: Tryptophan concentrations were lower in patients with RA (median, interquartile range: 44.95 microM, 40.31-49.95 microM) compared to healthy blood donors (62.62 microM, 57.27-74.61 microM; p<0.001). Kynurenine in patients (1.86 microM, 1.54-2.31 microM) did not differ from controls (2.06 microM, 1.58-2.65 microM; NS). The kyn/trp ratio was higher in patients (42.39 mM/M, 37.02-48.60 mM/M) than in controls (31.72 mM/M; 27.95-35.03 mM/M; p<0.001). Kynurenine concentrations (rs = 0.611; p<0.001) and kyn/trp ratios (rs = 0.621; p<0.001) correlated with neopterin concentrations, which indicate stimulated cellular immune response in patients with RA. CONCLUSIONS: The data point to a role of immune activation and Th1-type cytokine INF-g to induce elevated tryptophan degradation in patients with RA.

Study Type : Human Study

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