Inflammation control and improvement of cognitive function in COVID-19 infections: Is there a role for kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition?

Mary E W Collier; Shaowei Zhang; Nigel Scrutton; Flaviano  Giorgini

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.009

Inflammation control and improvement of cognitive function in COVID-19 infections: Is there a role for kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition?

Mary E W Collier, Shaowei Zhang, Nigel Scrutton, Flaviano Giorgini

Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry

University of Leicester

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The novel respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2 which causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019 and spread rapidly. It is now recognised that the nervous system can be affected in COVID-19, with several studies reporting long-term cognitive problems in patients. The metabolic pathway of tryptophan degradation, known as the kynurenine pathway (KP), has been found to be significantly activated in patients with COVID-19. KP metabolites have roles in regulating both inflammatory/immune responses and neurological functions. In this review, we speculate on the effects of KP activation in COVID-19 patients, and how modulation of this pathway may impact inflammation and reduce neurological symptoms.

Original language	English
Journal	Drug discovery today
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.009
Publication status	Published - 18 Feb 2021

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10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.009

Manuscript final draft COVID-19 and the KP clean versionAccepted author manuscript, 1.02 MB

Cite this

@article{23aeb641272e4eb089278480d2bb25f7,

title = "Inflammation control and improvement of cognitive function in COVID-19 infections: Is there a role for kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition?",

abstract = "The novel respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2 which causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019 and spread rapidly. It is now recognised that the nervous system can be affected in COVID-19, with several studies reporting long-term cognitive problems in patients. The metabolic pathway of tryptophan degradation, known as the kynurenine pathway (KP), has been found to be significantly activated in patients with COVID-19. KP metabolites have roles in regulating both inflammatory/immune responses and neurological functions. In this review, we speculate on the effects of KP activation in COVID-19 patients, and how modulation of this pathway may impact inflammation and reduce neurological symptoms.",

author = "Collier, {Mary E W} and Shaowei Zhang and Nigel Scrutton and Flaviano Giorgini",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.009",

language = "English",

journal = "Drug discovery today",