Tryptophan Catabolism in Chronic Viral Infections: Handling Uninvited Guests

Abstract

l-Tryptophan (l-Trp) is an essential amino acid that possesses diverse metabolic, neurological, and immunological roles spanning from the synthesis of proteins, neurotransmitter serotonin, and neurohormone melatonin, to its degradation into immunosuppressive catabolites by indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the kynurenine pathway (KP). Trp catabolites, by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), play an important role in antimicrobial defense and immune regulation. IDO/AhR acts as a double-edged sword by both depleting l-Trp to starve the invaders and by contributing to the state of immunosuppression with microorganisms that were not cleared during acute infection. Pathogens experiencing Trp deprivation by IDO-mediated degradation include certain bacteria, parasites, and less likely viruses. However, chronic viral infections highjack the host immune response to create a state of disease tolerance via kynurenine catabolites. This review covers the latest data involving chronic viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), herpes, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and their cellular interplay with Trp catabolites. Strategies developed by viruses to escape immune control also represent new avenues for therapeutic interventions based on Trp metabolism.

Introduction

l-Tryptophan (l-Trp) is one of the nine essential amino acids and is the least abundant of all 21 dietary amino acids in human beings. The distinguishing structural characteristic of Trp is that it contains an indole functional group. The l-stereoisomer of Trp is used in protein synthesis and in the generation of products such as aminergic neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]), the neurohormone melatonin, kynuramine metabolites, amine tryptamine, and importantly products of the kynurenine pathway (KP)^1,2 (Fig. 1). Trp and its catabolites are well known for their immunosuppressive functions, disease tolerance, and contribution to immune privileged sites such as eyes, brain, placenta, and testes.^1,2 The KP represents >95% of Trp-catabolizing pathways and is now established as a key regulator of innate and adaptive immunity through its involvement in cancer, autoimmunity, and infection. Infection-induced inflammation triggers catabolism of Trp in several bacterial, protozoan, and viral infections such as Chlamydia psittaci, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania donovani, and herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2.^3–7 Trp is mainly catabolized through the enzymatic activity of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) 1 and 2, which are expressed widely in human tissues, and induced by interferon gamma (IFN-γ).⁸ Immune dysfunction during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is also associated with increased Trp catabolism by IDO.⁹

Figure 1.

Schematic representation of key enzymes and metabolites in the Trp/Kyn catabolic pathway, depicting frequent pathogens and the tissues/organs involved. Dietary Trp can be catabolized in the digestive tract by AhR-IDO-IL22 axis or by immunosuppressive Kyn pathway involving multiple enzymes, metabolites, and body organs. TDO, IDO-1, and IDO-2 are the first enzymes implicated in the Trp catabolism involving gut, immune cells, and liver. In muscles, exercise leads to the depletion of Kyn by inducing its catabolism into the nonbrain penetrating kynurenic acid. Overproduction of Kyn and its ligation to AhR leads to the induction of immunosuppressive cells. Trp metabolites like serotonin, Quin, and kynurenic acid have important implications in the brain function and mood disorders. NAD, an important cellular cofactor, is also produced by the liver during Trp catabolism. The list of microbial pathogens for which cell growth is reduced with Trp depletion or contributes to a state of immunosuppression/tolerance via KP is also depicted.

KP can be considered to have equivocal roles, as IDO is known to induce inflammation, while it is also reported to be involved in the control of acute and chronic infections.^10,11 The metabolic immune regulation of IDO involves the protection of the host from overreactive immune responses via the induction of systemic immune tolerance.¹² Another mechanism of IDO activity is through interaction with ligand-dependent transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a dioxin receptor that induces detoxifying enzymes and modulates immune cell differentiation after sensing environmental toxins and endogenous ligands.¹³ AhR is also known to regulate chronic gut inflammation. The Trp catabolites that act as AhR ligands include kynurenine (Kyn), kynurenic acid, and tryptamine. A recent review has summarized several studies reporting the mechanisms by which IDO activity activates AhR leading to inhibition of colonization and induction of tolerance at the host–microbe mucosal interface.¹⁴

IDO is strongly induced by IFN-γ, which catalyzes the conversion of Trp into N-formylkynurenine.⁸ IDO-associated Trp depletion is implicated in growth inhibition of certain bacteria,⁵ parasites,¹⁶ and is also associated with antiviral properties against several viruses to a lesser extent, including measles,¹⁷ herpes simplex type 1 and 2,^6,18 and vaccinia virus.¹⁹ In addition to this role in infection, altered Trp metabolism has an impact on immune responses such as during maternal tolerance toward the fetus, immune-escape of cancer cells, and neurocognition.^20,21 By inducing serotonin depletion, the KP has become recognized as a key player in the pathogenesis of several major neuroinflammatory brain conditions associated with chronic viral infections such as HIV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and HSV.^6,22–25 Recently, neuroinflammation has been reported to be regulated by the muscular enzymes kynurenine transaminases (KATs), which metabolize Kyn to nonbrain penetrating kynurenic acid.²⁶ Herein, we have reviewed recent studies reporting modulation of Trp metabolism in the context of chronic viral infections.

Trp Metabolism in Health and Disease: a Complex Interplay Between Microbiota, Muscle, Brain, and the Immune System

Trp is metabolized into several downstream physiologically active substances, including serotonin, melatonin, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).¹ The KP is the major Trp catabolizing pathway, regulated in human beings by three distinct enzymes: IDO-1 and IDO-2 inducible in many tissues and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) expressed in liver, brain, and cancer cells.^1,2 In physiological conditions, TDO is the main enzyme degrading Trp, while in the context of infection, IDO-1 is induced and becomes the most important intracellular enzyme. Based on the health condition, IDO or TDO leads to the production of Kyn, an immunosuppressive derivative of Trp.¹ (Fig. 1). Antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and B-cells, as well as epithelial cells, deplete Trp by producing IDO-1, IDO-2, and TDO, resulting in a mechanism of defense against certain microorganisms.⁵ In contrast, the KP induces immunosuppression through induction of T-cell exhaustion and expansion of Tregs.^27,28 Increased activity of the KP as measured by the ratio of Kyn to Trp in plasma (KT ratio) has also been associated with progressive AIDS⁹ and liver cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.²⁹

Recent studies on gut microbiota have found an important link between Trp metabolism and the mucosal/barrier interphase via microbial/toxin sensor AhR, a ligand-activated cytosolic transcription factor.^13,30,31 AhR was found to create a positive feedback loop with IDO and Kyn to maintain a state of immune tolerance between commensal microbiota and the host.^13,32 Nguyen et al reported that AhR induced IDO expression in DCs and that the expression of AhR was enhanced by stimulating the DCs with bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS).³³ AhR contributes to immune homeostasis by having an antimicrobial role through induction of interleukin-22 (IL-22) transcription, and an anti-inflammatory role through mediating IDO-dependent differentiation of Tregs.¹⁴ IDO can also be induced by IFN-γ in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) and/or caspase inflammatory signals. Furthermore, IDO is the rate-limiting enzyme of the KP producing several metabolites, which are also AhR ligands.³⁴ Kyn is one such catabolite that regulates immune homeostasis by acting as an AhR ligand, allowing for the generation of immunosuppressive Tregs (Fig. 2).^35,36

Figure 2.

Schematic representation of Trp metabolism and immune cell interactions in health and infection.

Trp Catabolism in HIV Infection: Dealing with a Dangerous Enemy

CD4 T-cell depletion and chronic immune activation are hallmarks of HIV infection. Persistent immune activation despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with an increased risk of AIDS and non-AIDS related events, including cardiovascular, liver and kidney diseases, cancers, and alteration of neurocognition.³⁷ HIV is additionally capable of altering the gastrointestinal environment leading to changes in gut microbiota and mucosal permeability, which results in microbial translocation contributing to systemic immune activation.³⁸ We and others have identified several factors implicated in HIV immune dysfunction, including programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4),^39–41 and, more recently, Trp catabolites.^27,42–45 Trp degrading bacteria present in the intestinal flora have been associated with the dysfunction of gut mucosal CD4 Th17/Th22 cells, leading to the creation of a systemic KP activation cycle. This self-sustaining loop between microbiota and IDO-expressing myeloid cells has harmful effects on disease progression and neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected patients.^22,24

In 1998, Huengsberg et al first reported an increased IDO activity, which was measured by the elevation of KT ratio in HIV-infected patients vs healthy subjects, thus suggesting the link between increased KP activity and HIV immune dysfunction.⁹ Microbial products and types I and II interferons (IFNs) induce IDO-1 in the context of HIV infection. Two Trp metabolites, Kyn and quinolinic acid (Quin), can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HIV-infected patients and are correlated with the severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) and infection of myeloid-derived cells in the brain.^22,46 Drewes et al recently demonstrated that Quin and Trp ratios are capable of predicting neurological disease in the CSF of SIV-infected macaques even under effective ART.⁴⁷ In addition, HIV proteins Tat, Nef, and gp41 have been reported to directly activate the KP through the production of neurotoxic Quin in macrophages.⁴⁸ A dose-dependent elevation of KT ratio in patients has been associated with severity of depression, and ART can partially revert this elevation leading to improvement in neurocognition.⁴⁹

Several studies of Austrian, Ugandan, and Chinese cohorts of HIV-infected patients showed that 6–12 months of successful ART can reduce KT ratios by two folds,^44,50,51 while our group has shown a complete recovery after a decade of successful ART.²⁷ In addition, we also showed that patients treated in their early phase of HIV infection, normalized KT ratio in <12 months of therapy. Importantly, the KT ratio was significantly associated with other soluble and cellular markers such as IL-6, IP10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α and CD8+ T-cell activation even during the very early phase of HIV infection.⁴² Collectively, these findings indicate that the KT ratio represents an independent marker of disease progression linked to CD4 T-cell counts, level of T-cell activation, inflammatory markers, and viral load.^27,42,44

Trp Metabolism in Viral Hepatitis: Damaging the Firewall for Immune Activation

IDO induction in chronic viral infections is considered to be the main cause of the decreased serum Trp levels. Cozzi et al studied patients chronically infected by HCV or hepatitis B virus (HBV) who were found to have lower serum Trp concentrations than healthy volunteers.⁴⁵ Furthermore, Comai et al confirmed the decrease of Trp in HCV-infected patients as well as a decline of serotonin pathway, contributing to the development of depressive symptoms in HCV patients undergoing IFN-α therapy.⁵² Using primary human hepatocytes, Lepiller et al showed that HCV infection stimulates IDO expression and concurred with the expression of types I and III IFNs and IFN-stimulated genes.⁵³ These study findings showed that HCV infection directly induced IDO and IFN expression.

Like in HIV, ineffective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses have been reported in chronic HBV and HCV infections.^54–56 However, in vitro, IDO activity, when induced by IFN-γ, was not found to modify HCV replication in Huh7 cells, which are a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.⁵⁴ It was speculated that IDO activity suppresses an overactive immune response triggered by TNF-α-producing NK-cells and macrophages infiltrating the liver. Following the concept of reestablishing immunocompetent CTLs, wild-type and IDO knockout (KO) mice were immunized with a combination of α-GalCer and HBsAg.⁵⁵ IDO KO mice showed an increased expression of IL-2 and IL-12 after immunization, leading to the induction of HBsAg-specific CTLs. An increase in the number of IDO-expressing CD11b+ Ly6G+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells was observed postimmunization in spleen, which was associated with suppression of CTL. Another study determined the role of IFN-induced genes in vitro and identified IDO as the major mediator of the IFN-γ-induced antiviral response in HBV infection.⁵⁷

High plasma KT ratios have been reported in association with increased IDO expression in hepatocytes and DCs infected with HBV and HCV.^56,58 Higashitani et al demonstrated that Kyn levels correlated with advanced liver conditions such as fibrosis.⁵⁸ Systemic effects resulting from induction of KP have been reported in monocytes isolated from PBMCs obtained from HCV-positive patients. When activated with LPS or INF-γ, these cells were shown to differentiate into IDO-expressing DCs capable of a more potent Treg induction (Fig. 2).⁵⁸ We also recently reported that in ART-treated HIV/HCV coinfected patients, elevated plasma levels of KT ratio were present only for those presenting with liver fibrosis.⁵⁹ The liver is now considered to serve as a “firewall” to filter gut microbial products, such as LPS that egress to systemic vascular circuits in patients with fibrosis.^60,61 The phagocytic Kupffer and stellate cells are activated via an exaggerated LPS/TLR-4 interaction and in turn induce the KP.^60,62 Fibrosis can be linked with a major dysfunction of the liver TLR-4-AhR-TDO-IDO microbial model, contributing to the breakdown of endotoxin and disease tolerance defense.

The Pitfalls of Trp Degradation in Herpesviridae Infections

Herpes viruses

Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 are members of the Herpesviridae family, which establish latency in neural ganglia. HSV-2 is the primary cause of genital herpes lesions and establishes a lifelong latent infection in the neurons of the sacral ganglia, which can be reactivated depending on the host immune response.^63,64 IFN-γ production remains a key element of defense against HSV infection, capable of inhibiting virus replication.⁶⁵ Adams et al demonstrated using HeLa and astrocytoma cell lines that IFN-γ-induced IDO activity acts as a potent antiviral effector mechanism against HSV-2 infection. They further reported that excess Trp is capable of abrogating the antiviral effect of IFN-γ.⁶ In a mouse model of HSV infection, increased activity of IDO and Kyn hydroxylase were reported.⁶⁶ Both of these enzymes are required for the formation of the neurotoxin Quin.

Cytomegalo virus

Human infection with CMV, another member of the Herpesviridae family, also persists for life by counteracting IFN-mediated antiviral defense.^67–69 CMV infection remains latent within the body and can be reactivated by severe immunosuppressive states like HIV infection, cancers, and following an organ transplant. Bodaghi et al revealed that IFN-γ-induced IDO activity inhibited the replication of CMV in human retinal pigment epithelial cells and that supplementation of Trp blocked the antiviral effect.^70,71 Additionally, IDO was proposed to represent the prime effector restricting CMV growth in cells downstream from IFN-γ induction.⁷⁰ The IFN-γ-dependent iNOS pathway was reported as being blocked by CMV infection, further strengthening the belief that a selective IFN-γ induction of IDO is modified by CMV. An increase in IDO activity in vivo has been described during infection, as well as in patients receiving IFN-γ therapy.⁷² However, it has also been reported that IDO induction in vivo results in an inhibition of T-cell activation and proliferation.³⁵ Given that T-cells are the main producers of IFN-γ and that their activation is necessary to maintain defense against viruses, IDO activity would be expected to have a negative effect on the activation of an antiviral defense. However, a recent report indicated that CMV infection itself might induce IDO expression through an IFN-γ like transcriptional response mediated by the viral immediate early 1/pp72 protein.⁷³

Zimmermann et al have recently demonstrated that CMV rigorously controls the IFN-γ-dependent induction of IDO at the level of IDO mRNA transcription in epithelial cells and fibroblasts.⁶⁷ CMV infection abrogated IDO-mediated immunosuppressive properties of human fibroblasts in coculture with activated T-cells.⁷⁴ In addition, Sadeghi et al investigated the clinical relevance of plasma Trp and its metabolites (Kyn and Quin) in kidney transplant recipients with CMV or polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection.²³ Both Kyn and Quin levels were increased in CMV infection and associated with the severity of infection, highlighting their role as biomarkers for disease progression. Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have potential as a novel cellular immunosuppressant to control steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) because of their increased IDO activity that would lead to immunosuppressive and antimicrobial effects. However, Meisel et al recently reported that CMV is a major negative regulator of IDO activity in human MSCs, and therefore undermines the clinical efficacy of MSC treatment in stem cell transplant recipients.⁷⁵

Epstein–Barr virus

Infectious mononucleosis is the most common clinical manifestation of infection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), another widely spread herpesvirus family member that is also associated with malignancies such as Burkitt’s lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in human beings.⁷⁶ EBV is known for its epithelial and B-cell tropism and also infects monocytes/macrophages, intraepithelial macrophages, and Langerhans cells. EBV-infected monocytes demonstrate a suppression of phagocytic activity and potent antiviral activity,⁷⁷ further leading to apoptosis and an inhibition of their differentiation into DCs.⁷⁸ Song et al reported a role for EBV infection in the modulation of Trp metabolism through increased expression of IDO in B-cells, translating into decreased NK-cell cytotoxicity.⁷⁹ Liu et al found that macrophages in tumor stroma express significantly higher amounts of IDO in comparison to tumor cells induced by infection with EBV.⁸⁰ They also showed that EBV-induced IDO expression of macrophages suppressed T-cell proliferation, impaired the cytotoxic activity of CD8 T-cells, and was dependent on TNF-α and IL-6 secretion. IDO induction during chronic active EBV infection is also associated with decreased serotonin levels leading to symptoms, including mood disturbances.⁵² All these observations point to the contribution of the KP on disease tolerance and may have a major impact in HIV-infected patients or transplant recipients who have concomitant chronic viral infections in the context of severe immunosuppression.

Therapeutic Options for Modulation of the KP to Improve Patient Outcomes

Interventions to normalize KP should include direct IDO/TDO inhibitors as well as modulation of factors contributing to its induction such as gut microbiota composition and gut epithelial damage. A competitive inhibitor of IDO, 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT), induced transitory neurological protection after LPS challenge in CX3CL1^−/− mice.⁸¹ In another mouse model, 1-MT was able to reduce by 90% the number of HIV-infected macrophages in the brain.⁸² However, disappointing results were reported with 1-MT used in SIV-infected rhesus macaques on ART.^83,84 New IDO inhibitors are under development as anticancer agents, and some are currently under assessment in clinical trials, including INCB024360 and indoximod (D-1-methyl-tryptophan), combined with chemotherapy.^85–87 Another emerging area is the combination of immune therapies involving the simultaneous blockade of PD-1, CTLA-4 nonredundant pathways, and IDO expression for myeloid/T-cell interactions that may significantly revert the immune system, as has been reported in mouse cancer models.⁸⁸ In cancer patients, a recent study reported IDO-specific T-cells to influence adaptive immune reactions, while vaccination with IDO-derived epitope in a phase I clinical trial showed long-lasting disease stabilization without toxicity.^89,90 An alternative Trp-degrading enzyme TDO, which is not inhibited by 1-MT and is mainly expressed in the liver or brain, requires a specific inhibitor to normalize KP activity. TDO inhibition research is just starting and is limited to mouse cancer animal models.⁹¹ These studies will result in novel therapeutic options for treating patients with chronic viral infections because of multiple similarities between cancer and infection as both induce immune activation and inflammation.⁹²

The general findings indicate that the Trp catabolic pathway is an important link between microbiome and systemic immune activation, which further worsens in chronic viral infections. The microbiota can also influence the immune system by stimulating the AhR through Trp catabolites.

A recent study on a mouse colitis model showed 6-formylindolo-(3,2-b)-carbazole (Ficz), which is a Trp catab-olite and an AhR ligand, to suppress epithelial IL-7 secretion improving the gut inflammation.⁹³ Ficz was also associated with a decrease in the percentage of activated CD4 and CD8 T-cells. These findings suggest AhR inhibitors as promising therapeutic interventions to be considered in a variety of conditions, including chronic viral infections.

Natural products such as curcumin, green tea, resveratrol, and rosemary have been found to downregulate IDO expression via JAK/STAT kinase pathways.^94–97 Interestingly, Gostner et al⁹⁸ recently reported a dose-dependent suppression of Trp breakdown by extracts of coffee and decaffeinated coffee in PBMCs stimulated with mitogen.⁹⁸ Translational research, bridging fundamental research with clinical investigations in the field of Infectious Diseases, Oncology, and Inflammation, will be needed to provide effective KP-based therapy.

Conclusion

Trp starvation plays a limited role in mechanisms of host resistance to viral infection when compared to its more extensive protective contribution in certain bacterial or parasitic infections.⁹⁹ However, in the absence of viral clearance, IDO activation could pose an acceptable compromise for the host to prevent overwhelming tissue destruction at the expense of inhibition of antiviral T-cell responses and expansion of Tregs. IDO overexpression by antigen-presenting cells contributes to withdrawal of the virus from immune surveillance, leading to disease tolerance. The studies outlined herein indicate the important role of Trp metabolism via IDO/AhR in the host response to chronic viral infection, and its major role in infections such as HIV, HBV, and HCV where systemic immune activation is most elevated. The identification of the “environmental/microbial” sensor AhR, that induces IDO expression,³³ represents an important finding, which may pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions. New directions include further examination into Trp immune-metabolic pathway inhibitors, as well as the possibility of combination therapy with nonredundant immune checkpoint inhibitors such as those targeting the PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA4 pathways.^87,92 Such immunological approach in chronic viral infections using immune check point inhibitors and/or IL-7 may result in different toxicities as compared to cancer patients.^7,100 Future studies on Trp metabolism will be fruitful for enhancing vaccine responses and designing therapeutic approaches to prevent and potentially cure chronic viral infections as well as other debilitating conditions such as autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Abbreviations

Trp

tryptophan

KP

kynurenine pathway

IDO

indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase

IFN-γ

interferon gamma

AhR

aryl hydrocarbon receptor

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HBV

hepatitis B virus

HCV

hepatitis C virus

CMV

cytomegalovirus

HSV

herpes simplex virus

KAT

kynurenine transaminase

NAD

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

TDO

tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase

Kyn

kynurenine

DCs

dendritic cells

TLR

Toll-like receptor

ART

antiretroviral therapy

PD-1

programmed death-1

CTLA-4

cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4

Quin

Quinolinic acid

HAND

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder

TNF-α

tumor necrosis factor alpha

EBV

Epstein-Barr virus