Effect of kynurenine on tryptophan-albumin binding in human plasma

Increased plasma free tryptophan levels have been reported in cancer patients and causally associated to the presence of anorexia. The pathogenesis of this occurrence is yet to be completely understood. Kynurenine is a metabolite of tryptophan, and has been reported increased in plasma during tumor growth. Because of the similarities between tryptophan and kynurenine we speculate that their rise in the presence of a tumor might be causally related. To test this hypothesis, we performed a series of in-vitro studies, showing that kynurenine supplementation reduces the amount of tryptophan bound to albumin, and thus, by competition, increases free tryptophan levels. The likely clinical consequences of these findings are discussed.