Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase Inhibitors

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO, EC 1.13.11.17) is a 45 kDa monomeric, heme-containing oxidoreductase which catalyzes the rate-limiting first step of the kynurenine pathway; the oxidative cleavage of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) into N-formyl-kynurenine (Nfk).

IDO, and the kynurenine pathway, are induced in response to several pro-inflammatory stimuli, especially IFN-γ, which leads to the production of L-Trp metabolites and the resultant depletion of L-Trp from tissues. This occurs in most ...