Endogenous activator of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)
CAS：2922-83-0
分子式：C10H12N2O3
分子量：208.21
纯度：98%
存储：Store at -20°C

Background:

L-Kynurenine is a metabolite of the amino acid L-tryptophan. L-Kynurenine is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist.
Kynurenine and its further breakdown products carry out diverse biological functions, including dilating blood vessels during inflammation and regulating the immune response. Some cancers increase kynurenine production, which increases tumor growth. L-kynurenine (Kyn) is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist that activates AHR-directed, naive T cell polarization to the anti-inflammatory Treg phenotype. Kynurenine activates AHR signaling at physiological concentrations in H1L7.5c3 cells and acts as an AHR agonist after a 24-hr exposure by inducing the AHR-regulated luciferase gene in H1L7.5c3 mouse hepatocyte cells[1].
Kynurenine dilates arteries from rats as well as humans via Kv7 channels in the vascular smooth muscle. In rats, this tryptophan metabolite causes hypotension, which is partly counteracted by Kv7 channel inhibition[2]. L-kynurenine administered 1 h before the hypoxia-ischemia shows a dose-dependent significant neuroprotective effect, with complete protection at a dose of 300 mg/kg. The induction of c-fos immunoreactivity in cerebral cortex is also blocked by this dose of L-kynurenine[3].
Reference:
[1]. Moyer BJ, et al. Inhibition of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor prevents Western diet-induced obesity. Model for AHR activation by kynurenine via oxidized-LDL, TLR2/4, TGFβ, and IDO1. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2016 Jun 1;300:13-24.
[2]. Sakakibara K, et al. Kynurenine causes vasodilation and hypotension induced by activation of KCNQ-encoded voltage-dependent K(+) channels. J Pharmacol Sci. 2015 Sep;129(1):31-7.
[3]. Nozaki K, et al. Neuroprotective effects of L-kynurenine on hypoxia-ischemia and NMDA lesions in neonatal rats. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 1992 May;12(3):400-7.