Treatment of autoimmune neuroinflammation with a synthetic tryptophan metabolite

Science. 2005 Nov 4;310(5749):850-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1117634.

Abstract

Local catabolism of the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is considered an important mechanism of regulating T cell immunity. We show that IDO transcription was increased when myelin-specific T cells were stimulated with tolerogenic altered self-peptides. Catabolites of Trp suppressed proliferation of myelin-specific T cells and inhibited production of proinflammatory T helper-1 (T(H)1) cytokines. N-(3,4,-Dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (3,4-DAA), an orally active synthetic derivative of the Trp metabolite anthranilic acid, reversed paralysis in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Trp catabolites and their derivatives offer a new strategy for treating T(H)1-mediated autoimmune diseases such as MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / genetics
  • Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Myelin Proteins / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Tryptophan / metabolism*
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates / administration & dosage
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates / pharmacology
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Cytokines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase
  • Myelin Proteins
  • ortho-Aminobenzoates
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Tryptophan
  • tranilast