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Kynurenine Pathway Metabolism in Human Astrocytes

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Tryptophan, Serotonin, and Melatonin

Abstract

The involvement of astrocytes in Kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolism is still poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the ability of human fetal astrocytes in vitro to produce quinolinic and picolinic acids using mass spectrometry. In parallel, we estimated the level of expression of five major KP enzymes using RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that astrocytes express most KP enzymes, except for kynurenine-hydroxylase. This in vitro study provides novel informations regarding the ability of human fetal astrocytes to degrade L-tryptophan along the KP.

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Guillemin, G.J., Kerr, S.J., Smythe, G.A., Armati, P.J., Brew, B.J. (1999). Kynurenine Pathway Metabolism in Human Astrocytes. In: Huether, G., Kochen, W., Simat, T.J., Steinhart, H. (eds) Tryptophan, Serotonin, and Melatonin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 467. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4709-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4709-9_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7133-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4709-9

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