Anna Iushina

The role of the IDO-mediated kynurenine pathway in microglial metabolism and chemo-resistance in glioblastoma.

Started May 30, 2025

Abstract or project description

The kynurenine pathway is one of the pathways that proceeds in the deadliest brain cancer - glioblastoma (GBM). Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), is an immunosuppressive metabolic enzyme, that is induced by an inflammatory cytokine known as interferon-𝛾 (IFN-𝛾). IDO1 is responsible for initiating the kynurenine pathway by metabolizing tryptophan into kynurenine. The main goal of this study is to determine what mechanisms are proceeding in the kynurenine pathway to get a better understanding of what processes should be targeted and what therapies might be useful. The main findings represent the detailed ways of the kynurenine pathway, affecting the tumor microenvironment (TME), and ways to inhibit processes that are initiated during the kynurenine pathway. This review paper addresses the biochemical processes and microglial metabolism in the GBM microenvironment that lead to the drug resistance.