IDO (Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) is an enzyme involved in metabolising the amino acid tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway. By depleting tryptophan, it can modulate immune responses, a mechanism that some tumours may use to evade immune detection. IDO is also implicated in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and is influenced by inflammation and stress.
Testing IDO activity can be beneficial for:
Dysregulated IDO activity can lead to a variety of symptoms, depending on whether the activity is excessively high or low:
Several factors can impact the activity of IDO:
Regulating IDO activity involves addressing the factors that influence it: