3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid inhibits PDK1 activation and suppresses experimental asthma by inducing T cell apoptosis

3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid (HAA), a compound generated during tryptophan metabolism initiated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, is known to induce T cell death, but its molecular target is not known. Here we report that HAA inhibits NF-κB activation upon T cell antigen receptor engagement by specifically targeting PDK1. Inhibition of NF-κB by HAA leads to dysfunction and cell death of activated Th2 cells, which in turn suppresses experimental asthma. Inhibition of NF-κB and induction of apoptosis is specific to CD4 T cells because HAA does not inhibit NF-κB activation or induce cell death upon Toll-like receptor 4 stimulation in dendritic cells. Thus, HAA is a natural inhibitor that restrains T cell expansion and activation.