Indoximod (NLG-8189) is a methylated tryptophan with immune checkpoint inhibitory activity. Indoximod inhibits the enzyme indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO), which degrades the essential amino acid tryptophan, and may increase or maintain tryptophan levels important to T cell function. Tryptophan depletion is associated with immunosuppression involving T cell arrest and anergy.

IDO:19 μM(Ki)

Indoximod significantly reverses the suppression of T cells created by IDO-expressing dendritic cells, using both human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and murine dendritic cells isolated directly from tumor-draining lymph nodes. [1] Indoximod activates a Trp sufficiency signal that stimulates mTOR, and relieves IDO-induced Trp deprivation as well as an autophagic response. [2]

In mouse models of transplantable melanoma and transplantable and autochthonous breast cancer, Indoximod (400 mg/kg p.o.) enhances antitumor immunity in the setting of combined chemo-immunotherapy regimens. [1]

1MT enantiomers are solubilized in DMSO containing 0.1N HCl and added at concentrations of 100, 50, and 0 μM to wells containing the reaction mixture with tryptophan (0-200 μM) followed by addition of IDO enzyme. Plates are sealed and incubated 1 hr in a humidified 37°C incubator, after which the reactions are terminated by addition of 12.5 μl 30% TCA per well. Plates are then resealed in plastic wrap, incubated 30 min at 50°C to hydrolyze the reaction product N-formylkynurenine to kynurenine, and centrifuged. Supernatants are transferred to a flat-bottom 96-well plate, mixed with 100 μl Ehrlich reagent and incubated 10 min at room temperature. Absorbance at 490 nm is read[1].