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Home > Encyclopedia > Quinolinic acid

Quinolinic acid

Quinolinic acid structure

Quinolinic acid 

structure
  • CAS No:

    89-00-9

  • Formula:

    C7H5NO4

  • Chemical Name:

    Quinolinic acid

  • Synonyms:

    2,3-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid;Quinolinic acid;NSC 13127;NSC 18836;NSC 403247

  • Categories:

    Pharmaceutical Intermediates  >  Antibacterials

Description

Quinolinic acid is an endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist synthesized from L-tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway and thereby has the potential of mediating N-methyl-D-aspartate neuronal damage and dysfunction.


DryPowder|Solid


Quinolinic acid is a pyridinedicarboxylic acid that is pyridine substituted by carboxy groups at positions 2 and 3. It is a metabolite of tryptophan. It has a role as a NMDA receptor agonist, a human metabolite, a mouse metabolite and an Escherichia coli metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a quinolinate(1-) and a quinolinate.|Quinolinic Acid is an intermediate product of the kynurenine pathway, which is responsible for the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, with potential neurotoxic activity. If produced in excess, quinolinic acid can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and function as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, which may lead to both neuronal damage and neurodegenerative brain disease. The NMDA receptor, a heterotetrameric, ligand-gated and voltage-dependent glutamate receptor, is critical for synaptic plasticity, learning and memory.|A metabolite of tryptophan with a possible role in neurodegenerative disorders. Elevated CSF levels of quinolinic acid are correlated with the severity of neuropsychological deficits in patients who have AIDS.

Quinolinic acid Basic Attributes

173.17

167.12

137110

201-874-8

F6F0HK1URN

403247|18836|13127

DTXSID8041327

C113236

Crystals|Monoclinic crystals from water

29333999

Characteristics

87.5

0.2

White to light yellow-beige Crystalline Powder

1.6±0.1 g/cm3

228.5 °C

425ºC at 760 mmHg

210.9±24.6 °C

1.628

H2O: 0.55 g/100 mL

Store at RT

6.1X10-6 mm Hg at 25 °C (est)

Odorless

2.43None

Henry's Law constant = 2.86X10-15 atm-cu m/mol at 25 °C (est)

pKa1 = 2.43 (conjugate acid)|pKa2 = 5.48 (est)

130.5 Ų [M+H-H2O]+ [CCS Type: DT, Method: single field calibrated with Agilent tune mix (Agilent)]|138.98 Ų [M+H]+ [CCS Type: DT, Method: stepped-field]|130.03 Ų [M-H]- [CCS Type: DT, Method: stepped-field]|132.3 Ų [M+H]+ [CCS Type: DT, Method: single field calibrated with ESI Low Concentration Tuning Mix (Agilent)]|126.6 Ų [M-H]- [CCS Type: DT, Method: single field calibrated with ESI Low Concentration Tuning Mix (Agilent)]|130.2 Ų [M+H]+ [CCS Type: TW, Method: calibrated with polyalanine and drug standards]|128 Ų [M-H]-

190 °C when rapidly heated, with decomposition into CO2 and nicotinic acid|Hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant = 1.08X10-12 cu cm/molec-sec at 25 °C (est)

Safety Information

IRRITANT

NONH for all modes of transport

3

36/37/38-33

26-36/37-24/25-37

US7967250

Xi

Stable at room temperature in closed containers under normal storage and handling conditions.

P305 + P351 + P338

H319-H335

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

|Warning|H302 (27.03%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]|P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 111 companies from 11 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Toxicity

...This work ... investigated the effect of a garlic-derived compound and well-characterized free radical scavenger, S-allylcysteine, on quinolinic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity and oxidative damage. For this purpose, rats were administered S-allylcysteine (150, 300 or 450 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before a single striatal infusion of 1 uL of quinolinic acid (240 nmol). The lower dose (150 mg/kg) of S-allylcysteine resulted effective to prevent only the quinolinate-induced lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05), whereas the systemic administration of 300 mg/kg of this compound to rats decreased effectively the quinolinic acid-induced oxidative injury measured as striatal reactive oxygen species formation (P < 0.01) and lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). S-Allylcysteine (300 mg/kg) also prevented the striatal decrease of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05) produced by quinolinate. In addition, S-allylcysteine, at the same dose tested, was able to reduce the quinolinic acid-induced neurotoxicity evaluated as circling behavior (P < 0.01) and striatal morphologic alterations. In summary, S-allylcysteine ameliorates the in vivo quinolinate striatal toxicity by a mechanism related to its ability to: (a) scavenge free radicals; (b) decrease oxidative stress; and (c) preserve the striatal activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD). This antioxidant effect seems to be responsible for the preservation of the morphological and functional integrity of the striatum.|... Oxidative damage to biomolecules was followed by measuring lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl formation in rat brain tissue culture over a period of 24 hr of exposure to /quinolinic acid/ at a concentration of 0.5 millimeters. Quinolinic acid enhanced lipid peroxidation in an early stage of tissue culture, and protein carbonyl at a later stage. ... Melatonin, an antioxidant and neuroprotective agent with multiple actions as a radical scavenger and signaling molecule, completely prevented these prooxidant actions of quinolinic acid at a concentration of 1 millimeters. Morphological lesions and neurotoxicity induced by quinolinic acid were evaluated by light microscopy. Quinolinic acid produced extensive apoptosis/necrosis which was significantly attenuated by melatonin. Cotreatment with melatonin exerted a profound protective effect antagonizing the neurotoxicity induced by quinolinic acid. Glutathione reductase and catalase activities were increased by quinolinic acid and these effects were antagonized by melatonin. Furthermore, melatonin induced superoxide dismutase activity. Quinolinic acid and melatonin acted independently and by different mechanisms in modulating antioxidant enzyme activities.|The neuroprotective effect of melatonin against the quinolinic acid-induced degeneration of rat hippocampal neurons was investigated. Three groups of rats were given intrahippocampal injections of either; saline, quinolinic acid or ip injections of melatonin prior to and after being injected with quinolinic acid. On the fifth day after the intrahippocampal injections the brains were removed and the hippocampi either sectioned and stained for microscopic examination or used in glutamate receptor binding studies. The results show that melatonin protects hippocampal neurons from quinolinic acid-induced neurodegeneration and partially prevents the decrease in glutamate receptor numbers caused by quinolinic acid. Thus, melatonin has the potential to reduce hippocampal neuronal damage induced by neurotoxins such as quinolinic acid. PMID:9704893|To study the effects of the caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO on quinolinic acid (QA)-induced apoptosis ... rats were pre-treated with intrastriatal infusion of Ac-YVAD-CHO (2-8 ug) before intrastriatal injection of QA (60 nmol). Striatal total proteins, genomic DNA, and nuclear proteins were isolated. The effects of Ac-YVAD-CHO on QA-induced caspase-1 activity, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, IkappaB-alpha degradation, NF-kappaB, and AP-1 activation, and increases in p53 protein levels were measured with enzyme assays, agarose gel electrophoresis, electrophoresis mobility shift assays, and Western blot analysis. ... Pretreatment with Ac-YVAD-CHO inhibited QA-induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Ac-YVAD-CHO inhibited QA-induced increases in caspase-1 activity and p53 protein levels, but had no effect on QA-induced IkappaB-alpha degradation, NF-kappaB or AP-1 activation. /The authors concluded that/ caspase-1 is involved in QA-induced p53 upregulation but not IkappaB-alpha degradation. Inhibition of caspase-1 attenuates QA-induced apoptosis in rat striatum.|For more Interactions (Complete) data for QUINOLINIC ACID (31 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Quinolinic acid's production and use in the production of the herbicide imazapyr and as an intermediate in the production of nicotinic acid(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 26(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 1.1X10+4 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that quinolinic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). A pKa1 of 2.43(4) and pKa2 of 5.48(5) indicate that this compound will primarily exist as a zwitterion in the environment and ions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(6). Quinolinic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 6.1X10-6 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(7). Quinolinic acid was 100% removed from soil after 8 days with 0.3% attributed to absorption and volatilization, respectively(8), suggesting that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).|AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 26(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 1.10X10+4 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that quinolinic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa1 of 2.43(4) and pKa2 of 5.48(5) indicate quinolinic acid will exist as a zwitterion at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(6). According to a classification scheme(7), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from its water solubility(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Quinolinic acid was 100% removed from soil after 8 days(8), suggesting that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in water(SRC).|ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), quinolinic acid, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 6.1X10-6 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase quinolinic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 15 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.1X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Quinolinic acid contains chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(4).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of quinolinic acid with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 1.1X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 15 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Quinolinic acid is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(2). Quinolinic acid does contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(2).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for quinolinic acid(SRC), using a water solubility of 1.1X10+4 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Koc of quinolinic acid is estimated as 26(SRC), using a water solubility of 1.1X10+4 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that quinolinic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. A pKa1 of 2.43(4) and a pka2 of 5.48(5) indicates that this compound will primarily exist as a zwitterion in the environment and ions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(6).

A pKa1 of 2.43(1) and a pKa2 of 5.48(2) indicate quinolinic acid will exist as a zwitterion at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from soil or water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. Quinolinic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 6.1X10-6 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(3).

Occupational exposure to quinolinic acid may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where quinolinic acid is produced or used. (SRC)

Drug Information

Kynurenine, a metabolite of tryptophan along the 'kynurenine pathway', is at a branch point of the pathway which can lead to the synthesis of both quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid. kynurenic acid is an antagonist of glutamate receptors; however, quinolinic acid is a selective agonist of NMDA receptors, and has been shown to act as an excitotoxic agent. A high quinolinic acid/kynurenic acid ratio has been implicated in a variety of neurological diseases in which excitotoxic neuronal cell death is found, e.g. AIDS-related dementia, stroke, etc. Inhibiting the key enzymes of this pathway (i.e. kynureninase and kynurenine 3-hydroxylase) would lower the quinolinic acid/kynurenic acid ratio, which may potentially have neuroprotective effects.|The incorporation of tritium-label into quinolinic acid, kynurenic acid, and other kynurenine pathway metabolites was studied in normal and quinolinic acid-lesioned rat striata after a focal injection of [5-3H]kynurenine in vivo. The time course of metabolite accumulation was examined 15 min to 4 hr after injection of [5-3H]kynurenine, and the concentration dependence of kynurenine metabolism was studied in rats killed 2 hr after injection of 1.5-1,500 uM [5-3H]kynurenine. Labeled quinolinic acid, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, and xanthurenic acid were recovered from the striatum in every experiment. Following injection of 15 uM [5-3H]kynurenine, a lesion-induced increase in kynurenine metabolism was noted. Thus, the proportional recoveries of [3H]kynurenic acid (5.0 vs. 1.8%), [3H]3-HK (20.9 vs. 4.5%), [3H]xanthurenic acid (1.5 vs. 0.4%), and [3H]quinolinic acid (3.6 vs. 0.6%) were markedly elevated in the lesioned striatum. Increases in kynurenine metabolism in lesioned tissue were evident at all time points and kynurenine concentrations used. Lesion-induced increases of the activities of kynurenine-3-hydroxylase (3.6-fold), kynureninase (7.6-fold), kynurenine aminotransferase (1.8-fold), and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxygenase (4.2-fold) likely contributed to the enhanced flux through the pathway in the lesioned striatum. These data provide evidence for the existence of a functional kynurenine pathway in the normal rat brain and for a substantial increase in flux after neuronal ablation.|Kynurenine is an intermediate in the pathway of the metabolism of tryptophan to nicotinic acid. Kynurenine is formed in the mammalian brain (40%) and is taken up from the periphery (60%), indicating that it can be transported across the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, kynurenine can be converted to two other components of the pathway: the neurotoxic quinolinic acid and the neuroprotective kynurenic acid. Quinolinic acid is probably the most widely studied metabolite of kynurenine, because it may cause excitotoxic neuronal cell loss and convulsions by interacting with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex, a type of glutamate receptor. Kynurenic acid is another metabolite of kynurenine; its synthesis is catalysed by kynurenine aminotransferases. This is the only known endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor inhibitor, which can act at the glycine site on the receptor complex. Furthermore, kynurenic acid non-competitively inhibits alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine presynaptic receptors (nAChRs), inhibiting glutamate release, and regulates the expression of alpha4beta2 nAChR. It is well-known that the activation of excitatory amino acid receptors can play a role in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke and epilepsy. Various studies have been made of whether the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist kynurenic acid can exert a therapeutic effect in these neurological disorders. It has been established that kynurenic acid has only a very limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.|The kynurenine pathway is the main pathway of tryptophan metabolism. L-kynurenine is a central compound of this pathway since it can change to the neuroprotective agent kynurenic acid or to the neurotoxic agent quinolinic acid. The break-up of these endogenous compounds' balance can be observable in many disorders. It can occur in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease, in stroke, in epilepsy, in multiple sclerosis, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in mental failures, such as schizophrenia and depression. The increase of quinolinic acid concentration or decrease of kynurenic acid concentration could enhance the symptoms of several diseases. According to numerous studies, lowered kynurenic acid level was found in patients with Parkinson's disease. It can be also noticeable that kynurenic acid-treatment prevents against the quinolinic acid-induced lesion of rat striatum in animal experiments.|For more Metabolism/Metabolites (Complete) data for QUINOLINIC ACID (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant neurological disorder characterized by progressive chorea, cognitive impairment and emotional disturbance. The disease usually occurs in midlife and symptoms progress inexorably to mental and physical incapacitation. It has been postulated that an excitotoxin is involved in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. Schwarcz and colleagues have shown that quinolinic acid can produce axon-sparing lesions similar to those observed in Huntington's disease. The lesions result in a depletion of neurotransmitters contained within striatal spiny neurones, for example gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), while dopamine is unaffected. Recently, /several investigators/ ... demonstrated that in Huntington's disease striatum there is a paradoxical 3-5-fold increase in both somatostatin and neuropeptide Y which is attributable to selective preservation of a subclass of striatal aspiny neurones in which these peptides are co-localized. In the present study /the authors/ demonstrate that lesions due to quinolinic acid closely resemble those of Huntington's disease as they result in marked depletions of both GABA and substance P, with selective sparing of somatostatin/neuropeptide Y neurones. Lesions produced by kainic acid (KA), ibotenic acid (IA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (MeAsp) were unlike those produced by quinolinic acid, as they affected all cell types without sparing somatostatin/neuropeptide Y neurones. These results suggest that quinolinic acid or a similar compound could be responsible for neuronal degeneration in Huntington's disease.|...To determine whether caspase cleavage of huntingtin is a key event in the neuronal dysfunction and selective neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease, /the authors/ generated YAC mice expressing caspase-3- and caspase-6-resistant mutant huntingtin. Mice expressing mutant huntingtin, resistant to cleavage by caspase-6 but not caspase-3, maintain normal neuronal function and do not develop striatal neurodegeneration. Furthermore, caspase-6-resistant mutant huntingtin mice are protected against neurotoxicity induced by multiple stressors including NMDA, quinolinic acid, and staurosporine. These results are consistent with proteolysis of huntingtin at the caspase-6 cleavage site being an important event in mediating neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration and highlight the significant role of huntingtin proteolysis and excitotoxicity in Huntington's disease.|... excitotoxic lesion of rat brain with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist, quinolinic acid, induces expression of p53 messenger RNA and protein in brain regions showing delayed DNA fragmentation and that expression of p53 messenger RNA precedes DNA damage detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labelling. In addition, using in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry we demonstrate increased expression of the p53-responsive gene Gadd-45 (preceding p53 expression) and re-expression of the p53-responsive gene Bax (following p53 expression), in these same areas. Bax has been shown to promote neuronal death by interacting with Bcl-2 family members while Gadd-45 expression has been associated with suppression of the cell-cycle and DNA repair. These results suggest that p53 protein may function as an active transcription factor in lesioned brain perhaps initiating the re-expression of Bax in injured brain regions. However, since Gadd-45 precedes p53 expression it appears unlikely that p53 is involved in regulating the early expression of Gadd-45. Taken together however, these results suggest that p53, Bax and Gadd-45 may play important roles in the response (damage/recovery) of the brain following excitotoxic injury.|The kynurenine pathway is a major route of L-tryptophan catabolism leading to production of a number of biologically active molecules. Among them, the neurotoxin quinolinic acid, is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory neurological diseases. ... Most of the approaches to explain the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease focus on the accumulation of amyloid beta peptide (A beta), in the form of insoluble deposits leading to formation of senile plaques, and on the formation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Accumulation of A beta is believed to be an early and critical step in the neuropathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. There is now evidence for the kynurenine pathway being associated with Alzheimer's disease. Disturbances of the kynurenine pathway have already been described in Alzheimer's disease. Recently, /the authors/ demonstrated that A beta 1-42, a cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein, induces production of quinolinic acid, in neurotoxic concentrations, by macrophages and, more importantly, microglia. Senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease are associated with evidence of chronic local inflammation (especially activated microglia) A major aspect of quinolinic acid toxicity is lipid peroxidation and markers of lipid peroxidation are found in Alzheimer's disease. Together, these data imply that quinolinic acid may be one of the critical factors in the pathogenesis of neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease. This review describes the multiple correlations between the kynurenine pathway and the neuropathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and highlights more particularly the aspects of quinolinic acid neurotoxicity, emphasizing its roles in lipid peroxidation and the amplification of the local inflammation.|For more Mechanism of Action (Complete) data for QUINOLINIC ACID (15 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/SURVEILLANCE/ ... To evaluate the relationship between quinolinic acid, a neuroactive metabolite of L-tryptophan, and neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. ... 40 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid were obtained from 39 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were evaluated for 40 episodes of neuropsychiatric dysfunction. The diagnosis of the neuropsychiatric dysfunction was determined clinically. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum specimens were analyzed for levels of quinolinic acid without knowledge of the clinical diagnosis. ... Neuropsychiatric dysfunction attributed to systemic lupus erythematosus was confirmed in 30 patient-episodes (Group 1), whereas in the other 10 (Group 2) other etiologies were felt to explain their CNS dysfunction. The median levels of cerebrospinal fluid quinolinic acid for Group 1 (232.5 nmol/L) were significantly higher than those for Group 2 (median 38.2 nmol/L) (p < 0.014). Cerebrospinal fluid and serum quinolinic acid levels correlated significantly (p < 0.003) but there was no correlation between cerebrospinal fluid quinolinic acid and cerebrospinal fluid protein concentrations or white blood cell counts.|/SURVEILLANCE/ ... Quinolinic acid is a neurotoxic metabolite of the kynurenine pathway that accumulates within the central nervous system following immune activation. The present study determined whether the levels of quinolinic acid are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with infections of the CNS, hydrocephalus, tumors or hemorrhage. Extremely high quinolinic acid concentrations were found in patients with bacterial infections or the CNS, despite treatment with antimicrobial agents. CSF quinolinic acid levels were also elevated to a lesser degree in patients with hydrocephalus or tumors. CSF L-kynurenine levels increased in parallel to the accumulations in quinolinic acid, which is consistent with increased activity of the first enzyme of the kynurenine pathway, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase. The CSF levels of neopterin, a marker of immune and macrophage activation, were also increase in patients with infections. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were also detected in some patients' samples, and were highest in patients with infection. These results suggest that quinolinic acid is a sensitive marker of the presence of immune activation within the CNS. Further studies of quinolinic acid as a potential contributor to neurologic dysfunction and neurodegeneration in children with CNS inflammation are warranted.[Heyes MP et al; J Neurol Sci 133 (1-2): (1995)]|/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ Substantial increases in the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway metabolites, l-kynurenine and the neurotoxin quinolinic acid, occur in human brain, blood and systemic tissues during immune activation. Studies in vitro have shown that not all human cells are capable of synthesizing quinolinate. To investigate further the mechanisms that limit l-kynurenine and quinolinate production, the activities of kynurenine pathway enzymes and the ability of different human cells to convert pathway intermediates into quinolinate were compared. Stimulation with interferon gamma substantially increased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and L-kynurenine production in primary peripheral blood macrophages and fetal brains (astrocytes and neurons), as well as cell lines derived from macrophage/monocytes (THP-1), U373MG astrocytoma, SKHEP1 liver and lung (MRC-9). High activities of kynurenine 3-hydroxylase, kynureninase or 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase were found in interferon-gamma-stimulated macrophages, THP-1 cells and SKHEP1 cells, and these cells made large amounts of quinolinate when supplied with L-tryptophan, L-kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine or 3-hydroxyanthranilate. Quinolinate production by human fetal brain cultures and U373MG cells was restricted by the low activities of kynurenine 3-hydroxylase, kynureninase and 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase, and only small amounts of quinolinate were synthesized when cultures were supplied with L-tryptophan or 3-hydroxyanthranilate. In MRC-9 cells, quinolinate was produced only from 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilate, consistent with their low kynurenine 3-hydroxylase activity. The results are consistent with the notion that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is an important regulatory enzyme in the production of L-kynurenine and quinolinate. Kynurenine 3-hydroxylase and, in some cells, kynureninase and 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase are important determinants of whether a cell can make quinolinate.[Heyes MP et al; Biochem J 326 (Pt 2): 351-6 (1997)]|/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ ... Human fetal brain 14-16 weeks post-menses was cultured in medium with no detectable levels of quinolinic acid. After 4 weeks, 350 or 1200 nmol/L quinolinic acid was added to the feeding medium for a further 5 weeks. Neurotoxicity was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis.... A total of 1200 nmol/L quinolinic acid caused altered cell associations, a decrease in cell density and decreased microtubule-associated protein (MAP)-2 immunoreactivity compared with cultures exposed to 350 nmol/L quinolinic acid or controls. Image analysis of neurons in randomly selected fields revealed significantly swollen cells (P < 0.0001) compared with those treated with 350 nmol/L quinolinic acid or controls. Dendritic varicosities and discontinuous microtubular arrays were present in neurons exposed to both quinolinic acid concentrations, but not in control cultures.... This study is the first to assess quinolinic acid levels in the experimental medium, and demonstrates that chronic exposure of human neurons to concentrations of quinolinic acid equivalent to those in the CSF of patients with AIDS dementia complex (ADC) leads to alterations in dendritic ultrastructure and MAP-2 immunoreactivity, which is consistent with ADC pathology.[Kerr SJ et al; Aids 12 (4): 355-63 (1998)]|For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for QUINOLINIC ACID (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Quinolinate

Quinolinic acid Use and Manufacturing

Methods of Manufacturing

The preparation method is based on acrolein, diethyl oxaloacetate and ammonium chloride as raw materials. In the presence of a catalyst in ethanol, the reaction is heated to reflux and cooled to obtain pyridine-2, 3 dicarboxylic acid ester and then hydrolyzed to obtain a product.

Uses

Inhibits glucose synthesis


Intermediates


Agricultural products (non-pesticidal)

Production

100,000 - 500,000 lb

Pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical manufacturing|2,3-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid: ACTIVE

Analyte: quinolinic acid; matrix: brain, whole blood, plasma; procedure: gas chromatography with negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry|Analyte: quinolinic acid; matrix: biological sample; procedure: negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring

Cosmetics -> Skin conditioning

Computed Properties

Molecular Weight:167.12
XLogP3:0.2
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count:2
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count:5
Rotatable Bond Count:2
Exact Mass:167.02185764
Monoisotopic Mass:167.02185764
Topological Polar Surface Area:87.5
Heavy Atom Count:12
Complexity:204
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count:1
Compound Is Canonicalized:Yes

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