Abstract
This article summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a potent immune-suppressive enzyme, in dendritic cells (DCs). Specific attention is given to differential up-regulation of IDO in distinct DC subsets, its function in immune homeostasis/autoimmunity, infection and cancer; and the associated immunological outcomes. The review will conclude with a discussion of the poorly defined mechanisms that mediate the long-term maintenance of IDO-expression in response to inflammatory stimuli and how selective modulation of IDO activity may be used in the treatment of disease.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Autoimmunity
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Cell Lineage
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Dendritic Cells / enzymology
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Dendritic Cells / immunology*
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Dendritic Cells / pathology
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Humans
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Immune Tolerance*
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Immunity, Innate
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Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / genetics
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Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / immunology*
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Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / metabolism
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Inflammation / enzymology
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Inflammation / immunology*
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Inflammation / pathology
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Kynurenine / metabolism
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Mice
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Neoplasms / enzymology
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Neoplasms / immunology*
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Neoplasms / pathology
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Signal Transduction
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Tryptophan / metabolism
Substances
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Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase
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Kynurenine
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Tryptophan