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Review
. 1999 Oct;20(10):469-73.
doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(99)01520-0.

Tryptophan catabolism and T-cell tolerance: immunosuppression by starvation?

A L Mellor  1 , D H Munn
Affiliations
Review

Tryptophan catabolism and T-cell tolerance: immunosuppression by starvation?

A L Mellor et al. Immunol Today. 1999 Oct.

Abstract

Some macrophages inhibit microbial infections by producing indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), which catabolizes tryptophan. Here, Andrew Mellor and David Munn discuss evidence that cells that synthesize IDO protect the mammalian fetus from maternal T-cell attack and argue that this mechanism might have wider implications for the control of T-cell responses.

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