Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, the primary route for tryptophan degradation in the human body. It is produced through the irreversible transamination of kynurenine by kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs). Kynurenic acid is known for its neuroactive properties, functioning as an antagonist at glutamate receptors, particularly the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and as a ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35). These properties link KYNA to both neuroprotection and neuromodulation.
In research and clinical contexts, KYNA is studied as a biomarker for a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. Altered levels of kynurenic acid in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, or urine are often indicative of disruptions in tryptophan metabolism and are associated with cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Because KYNA modulates excitatory neurotransmission and immune responses, its dysregulation may contribute to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative and mood disorders.
Beyond neurology, KYNA is also gaining interest in immunology, oncology, and metabolic research due to its regulatory roles in oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular signaling. Its measurement can provide insight into systemic inflammation, immune modulation, and metabolic imbalances.
This product is manufactured in Germany by Immundiagnostik AG.