“Reprogramming of host metabolism supports viral pathogenesis by fueling viral proliferation, by providing, for example, free amino acids and fatty acids as building blocks,” as reported in COVID-19 infection alters kynurenine and fatty acid metabolism, correlating with IL-6 levels and renal status. “Targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses identified altered tryptophan metabolism into the kynurenine pathway, which regulates inflammation and immunity.”
Dysfunctional states of the kynurenine pathway (such as kynurenine, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, anthranilic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine) have been described for the following disorders:
* HIV dementia
* Tourette syndrome
* Tic disorders
* Psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,[6] major depression,[17] anxiety disorders)
* Multiple sclerosis
* Huntington’s disease
* Encephalopathies
* Lipid metabolism
* Liver fat metabolism
* Systemic lupus erythematosus
* Glutaric aciduria
* Vitamin B6 deficiency
* Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome
* Myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome[18]