cells Review Neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine Pathway in CNS Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications Mustafa N. Mithaiwala 1,2 , Danielle Santana-Coelho 1,2, Grace A. Porter 1,2 and Jason C. O’Connor 1,2,3,* 1 Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
[email protected] (M.N.M.);
[email protected] (D.S.-C.);
[email protected] (G.A.P.) 2 Department of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Mail Code 8864, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA 3 Department of Research, Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, South Texas Veterans Heath System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-(210)-567-4232 Abstract: Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) remain a significant health, social and eco- nomic problem around the globe. The development of therapeutic strategies for CNS conditions has suffered due to a poor understanding of the underlying pathologies that manifest them. Un- derstanding common etiological origins at the cellular and molecular level is essential to enhance the development of efficacious and targeted treatment options. Over the years, neuroinflammation has been posited as a common link between multiple neurological, neurodegenerative and neu- ropsychiatric disorders. Processes that precipitate neuroinflammatory conditions including genetics, infections, physical injury and psychosocial factors, like stress and trauma, closely link dysregulation Citation: Mithaiwala, M.N.; in kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan metabolism as a possible pathophysiological factor that Santana-Coelho, D.; Porter, G.A.; ‘fuel the fire’ in CNS diseases. In this study, we aim to review emerging evidence that provide O’Connor, J.C.