Dissecting the enigma of scleroderma: possible involvement of the kynurenine pathway

Abstract

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the metabolic pathway via which L-tryptophan is converted to nicotinamide. It serves important immune-regulatory roles. This article will review the evidence for involvement of the KP in scleroderma and present a possible model of kynurenine regulation of the cytokine cascade.

Keywords

• aryl hydrocarbon receptor
• kynurenine
• scleroderma
• th2
• transforming growth factor β