Kmo restricts Salmonella in a whole organism infection model by promoting macrophage lysosomal acidification through kainate receptor antagonism

The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation has been implicated in various diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. A key branchpoint in this pathway is production of the metabolite 3-hydroxy-kynurenine (3-HK) by the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (Kmo). We have previously reported that administration of exogenous 3-HK promotes survival of zebrafish larvae to Salmonella Typhimurium infection by restricting bacterial expansion via a systemic mechanism that targets kainate sensitive glutamate receptor (KAR) ion channels and that the endogenous production of 3-HK by Kmo is required for defense against systemic Salmonella infection. Here we show that endogenous 3-HK promotes lysosomal acidification to contribute to macrophage microbicidal activity, with its absence leading to increased host susceptibility to infection. Further, 3-HK promotes lysosomal acidification in a KAR-dependent manner. We thus reveal a novel link between KARs and macrophage lysosomal acidification, and a novel mechanism by which 3-HK promotes control of bacterial infection.