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Campanale A, Inserra A, Comai S. Therapeutic modulation of the kynurenine pathway in severe mental illness and comorbidities: A potential role for serotonergic psychedelics. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 134:111058. [PMID: 38885875 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Mounting evidence points towards a crucial role of the kynurenine pathway (KP) in the altered gut-brain axis (GBA) balance in severe mental illness (SMI, namely depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) and cardiometabolic comorbidities. Preliminary evidence shows that serotonergic psychedelics and their analogues may hold therapeutic potential in addressing the altered KP in the dysregulated GBA in SMI and comorbidities. In fact, aside from their effects on mood, psychedelics elicit therapeutic improvement in preclinical models of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and vascular inflammation, which are highly comorbid with SMI. Here, we review the literature on the therapeutic modulation of the KP in the dysregulated GBA in SMI and comorbidities, and the potential application of psychedelics to address the altered KP in the brain and systemic dysfunction underlying SMI and comorbidities. Psychedelics might therapeutically modulate the KP in the altered GBA in SMI and comorbidities either directly, via altering the metabolic pathway by influencing the rate-limiting enzymes of the KP and affecting the levels of available tryptophan, or indirectly, by affecting the gut microbiome, gut metabolome, metabolism, and the immune system. Despite promising preliminary evidence, the mechanisms and outcomes of the KP modulation with psychedelics in SMI and systemic comorbidities remain largely unknown and require further investigation. Several concerns are discussed surrounding the potential side effects of this approach in specific cohorts of individuals with SMI and systemic comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonio Inserra
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stefano Comai
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, PD, Italy.; IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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2
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Cory-Slechta DA, Marvin E, Welle K, Goeke C, Chalupa D, Oberdörster G, Sobolewski M. Male-biased vulnerability of mouse brain tryptophan/kynurenine and glutamate systems to adolescent exposures to concentrated ambient ultrafine particle air pollution. Neurotoxicology 2024; 104:20-35. [PMID: 39002649 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution (AP) exposures have been associated with numerous neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, all male-biased disorders with onsets from early life to late adolescence/early adulthood. While prior experimental studies have focused on effects of AP exposures during early brain development, brain development actually extends well into early adulthood. The current study in mice sought to extend the understanding of developmental brain vulnerability during adolescence, a later but significant period of brain development and maturation to the ultrafine particulate (UFPs) component of AP, considered its most reactive component. Additionally, it examined adolescent response to UFPs when preceded by earlier developmental exposures, to ascertain the trajectory of effects and potential enhancement or mitigation of adverse consequences. Outcomes focused on shared features associated with multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. For this purpose, C57Bl/6 J mice of both sexes were exposed to ambient concentrated UFPs or filtered air from PND (postnatal day) 4-7 and PND10-13, and again at PND39-42 and 45-49, resulting in 3 exposure postnatal/adolescent treatment groups per sex: Air/Air, Air/UFP, and UFP/UFP. Features common to neurodevelopmental disorders were examined at PND50. Mass exposure concentration from postnatal exposure averaged 44.34 μg/m3 and the adolescent exposure averaged 49.18 μg/m3. Male brain showed particular vulnerability to UFP exposures in adolescence, with alterations in frontal cortical and striatal glutamatergic and tryptophan/serotonergic neurotransmitters and concurrent reductions in levels of astrocytes in corpus callosum and in serum cytokine levels, with combined exposures resulting in significant reductions in corpus callosum myelination and serum corticosterone. Reductions in serum corticosterone in males correlated with reductions in neurotransmitter levels, and reductions in striatal glutamatergic function specifically correlated with reductions in corpus callosum astrocytes. UFP-induced changes in neurotransmitter levels in males were mitigated by prior postnatal exposure, suggesting potential adaptation, whereas reductions in corticosterone and in corpus callosum neuropathological effects were further strengthened by combined postnatal and adolescent exposures. UFP-induced changes in females occurred primarily in striatal dopamine systems and as reductions in serum cytokines only in response to combined postnatal and adolescent exposures. Findings in males underscore the importance of more integrated physiological assessments of mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Further, these findings provide biological plausibility for an accumulating epidemiologic literature linking air pollution to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. As such, they support a need for consideration of the regulation of the UFP component of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Cory-Slechta
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States.
| | - E Marvin
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - K Welle
- Mass Spectrometry Resource Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - C Goeke
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - D Chalupa
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - G Oberdörster
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - M Sobolewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
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Hatzimanolis A, Foteli S, Xenaki LA, Selakovic M, Dimitrakopoulos S, Vlachos I, Kosteletos I, Soldatos RF, Gazouli M, Chatzipanagiotou S, Stefanis N. Elevated serum kynurenic acid in individuals with first-episode psychosis and insufficient response to antipsychotics. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:61. [PMID: 38987245 PMCID: PMC11237022 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00483-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The tryptophan-metabolizing kynurenine pathway (KP) can be activated by enhanced inflammatory responses and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, there is little evidence for KP dysregulation in the early course of psychotic illness. We aimed to investigate the potential immune-mediated hyperactivity of KP in individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the relationship with symptom severity and treatment response outcomes. Serum immunoassays were performed to measure peripheral levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-a), KP rate-limiting enzymes (IDO/TDO), and kynurenic acid (KYNA) metabolite in 104 antipsychotic-naïve patients with FEP and 80 healthy controls (HC). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) were administered to assess psychopathology and functioning status at admission and following 4-week treatment with antipsychotics. Cytokine and KP components levels were substantially increased in FEP patients compared to HC, before and after antipsychotic treatment. A significant positive correlation between pro-inflammatory IL-1β and KYNA levels was observed among FEP patients, but not in HC. Importantly, within-patient analysis revealed that those with higher baseline KYNA experienced more severe negative symptoms and poorer clinical improvement at follow-up. These findings suggest that KP is upregulated in early psychosis, likely through the induction of IL-1β-dependent pathways, and raised peripheral KYNA might represent a promising indicator of non-response to antipsychotic medication in patients with FEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hatzimanolis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.
- Neurobiology Research Institute, Theodore-Theohari Cozzika Foundation, Athens, Greece.
| | - Stefania Foteli
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Department of Medical Biopathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Lida-Alkisti Xenaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Mirjana Selakovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefanos Dimitrakopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilias Vlachos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kosteletos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Rigas-Filippos Soldatos
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Gazouli
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Biology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou
- Department of Medical Biopathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikos Stefanis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Neurobiology Research Institute, Theodore-Theohari Cozzika Foundation, Athens, Greece
- World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, First Episode Psychosis Task Force, Barsbüttel, Germany
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Visser K, Ciubotariu D, de Koning ME, Jacobs B, van Faassen M, van der Ley C, Mayer AR, Meier TB, Bourgonje AR, Kema IP, van Goor H, van der Naalt J, van der Horn HJ. Exploring the kynurenine pathway in mild traumatic brain injury: A longitudinal study. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38770668 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
A potential source of novel biomarkers for mTBI is the kynurenine pathway (KP), a metabolic pathway of tryptophan (Trp), that is up-regulated by neuroinflammation and stress. Considering that metabolites of the KP (kynurenines) are implicated in various neuropsychiatric diseases, exploration of this pathway could potentially bridge the gap between physiological and psychological factors in the recovery process after mTBI. This study, therefore, set out to characterize the KP after mTBI and to examine associations with long-term outcome. Patients were prospectively recruited at the emergency department (ED), and blood samples were obtained in the acute phase (<24 h; N = 256) and at 1-month follow-up (N = 146). A comparison group of healthy controls (HC; N = 32) was studied at both timepoints. Trp, kynurenines, and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were quantified in plasma. Clinical outcome was measured at six months post-injury. Trp, xanthurenic acid (XA), and picolinic acid (PA) were significantly reduced in patients with mTBI relative to HC, corrected for age and sex. For Trp (d = -0.57 vs. d = -0.29) and XA (d = -0.98 vs. d = -0.32), larger effects sizes were observed during the acute phase compared to one-month follow-up, while for PA (d = -0.49 vs. d = -0.52) effect sizes remained consistent. Findings for other kynurenines (e.g., kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid) were non-significant after correction for multiple testing. Within the mTBI group, lower acute Trp levels were significantly related to incomplete functional recovery and higher depression scores at 6 months post-injury. No significant relationships were found for Trp, XA, and PA with IL-6 or IL-10 concentrations. In conclusion, our findings indicate that perturbations of the plasma KP in the hyperacute phase of mTBI and 1 month later are limited to the precursor Trp, and glutamate system modulating kynurenines XA and PA. Correlations between acute reductions of Trp and unfavorable outcomes may suggest a potential substrate for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Visser
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana Ciubotariu
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Myrthe E de Koning
- Department of Neurology, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Jacobs
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn van Faassen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Claude van der Ley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- The Mind Research Network and LBERI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Arno R Bourgonje
- The Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ido P Kema
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Division of Pathology of the Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joukje van der Naalt
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J van der Horn
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- The Mind Research Network and LBERI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Chen W, Tian Y, Gou M, Wang L, Tong J, Zhou Y, Feng W, Li Y, Chen S, Liu Y, Wang Z, Pan S, Zhang P, Huang J, Yang X, Li CSR, Tian L, Hong LE, Tan Y. Role of the immune-kynurenine pathway in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 130:110926. [PMID: 38147973 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and kynurenine pathway (KP) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Studies have shown inflammation-related effects on KP metabolism in patients with schizophrenia. This study investigated the relationship between KP metabolites, IRS, and the compensatory immune-regulatory reflex system (CIRS) in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). METHODS Patients with (n = 53) and without TRS (n = 47), and healthy controls (HCs, n = 49) were enrolled. We quantified plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, IL-6, soluble(s)IL-6 receptor, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor[TNF]-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-4, IL-10, tumor growth factor [TGF]-β1, TGF-β2, soluble (s) IL-2 receptor subunit α, sIL-2 receptor subunit β, and sTNF-α receptor 1) and calculated the IRS/CIRS ratio. We also tested serum metabolites of the KP, including kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), and quinolinic acid (QUIN), along with the QUIN/KYNA ratio. RESULTS Patients with TRS had significantly higher IRS/CIRS ratio than non-TRS patients (p = 0.002) and HCs (p = 0.007), and significantly lower KYN (p = 0.001) and KYNA (p = 0.01) levels than HCs. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that a younger age at illness onset (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91, p = 0.02) and a higher IRS/CIRS ratio (OR = 1.22; p = 0.007) were risk factors for patients with TRS. After further adjusted for age of onset, the QUIN/KYNA ratio (β = 0.97; p = 0.02) significantly moderated the relationship between IRS/CIRS and TRS, showing that in the higher QUIN/KYNA condition, higher IRS/CIRS ratio were significantly and more likely to be associated with patients with TRS (β = 0.12, z = 3.19, p = 0.001), whereas in the low QUIN/KYNA condition, the association between IRS/CIRS ratio and TRS was weak and insignificant. CONCLUSIONS The peripheral immune response was imbalanced in TRS and was preferentially directed towards the IRS compared to patients without TRS and healthy controls, which is likely to play a role in neurotoxicity. Additionally, peripheral KP activation was also imbalanced, as evidenced by significantly reduced KYN and KYNA levels in patients with TRS compared to healthy controls, but none of KP metabolisms were significantly difference in non-TRS patients compared to healthy controls. QUIN/KYNA ratio involving to the degree of activation of NMDA receptors, indicated the neurotoxic level of the KP activation. The interaction between IRS/CIRS and QUIN/KYNA ratio was significant in predicting TRS, and our findings suggest a potential role for the immune-kynurenine pathway in TRS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yichang Tian
- Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mengzhuang Gou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Leilei Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghui Tong
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Zhou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Feng
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanli Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yongchang Liu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shujuan Pan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Junchao Huang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaokui Yang
- Department of Human Reproductive Medicine, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Li Tian
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Wang Y, Zhang X. The role of immune inflammation in electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia: Treatment mechanism, and relationship with clinical efficacy: Immune-inflammation in ECT for schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2024; 332:115708. [PMID: 38171169 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a devastating psychiatric disorder that has detrimental effects on a significant portion of the global population. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as a safe and effective physical therapy for schizophrenia, has demonstrated the ability to rapidly improve both positive and negative symptoms. Despite being used to treat schizophrenia for over 80 years, the therapeutic mechanisms of ECT are still in the early stages of exploration. Evidence has suggested that immune inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia by interacting with neurotransmitters, neurodevelopment, and neurodegeneration. Given the importance of ECT as a fast-acting physical therapy for schizophrenia, gaining a deeper understanding of the role of immune inflammation may lead to developing innovative therapeutic approaches. This review summarized existing research that examined changes in peripheral inflammation following ECT in schizophrenia patients, and the effects of electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS) on neuroinflammation in animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangrong Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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7
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Marković M, Petronijević N, Stašević M, Stašević Karličić I, Velimirović M, Stojković T, Ristić S, Stojković M, Milić N, Nikolić T. Decreased Plasma Levels of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid in Previously Treated and First-Episode Antipsychotic-Naive Schizophrenia Patients. Cells 2023; 12:2814. [PMID: 38132134 PMCID: PMC10741951 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan (TRP) catabolites exert neuroactive effects, with the plethora of evidence suggesting that kynurenic acid (KYNA), a catabolite of the kynurenine pathway (KP), acts as the regulator of glutamate and acetylcholine in the brain, contributing to the schizophrenia pathophysiology. Newer evidence regarding measures of KP metabolites in the blood of schizophrenia patients and from the central nervous system suggest that blood levels of these metabolites by no means could reflect pathological changes of TRP degradation in the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma concentrations of TRP, kynurenine (KYN) and KYNA at the acute phase and remission of schizophrenia in a prospective, case-control study of highly selected and matched schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals. Our study revealed significantly decreased KYN and KYNA in schizophrenia patients (p < 0.001), irrespective of illness state, type of antipsychotic treatment, number of episodes or illness duration and no differences in the KYN/TRP ratio between schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals. These findings could be interpreted as indices that kynurenine pathway might not be dysregulated in the periphery and that other factors contribute to observed disturbances in concentrations, but as our study had certain limitations, we cannot draw definite conclusions. Further studies, especially those exploring other body compartments that participate in kynurenine pathway, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloš Marković
- Clinic for Mental Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarević”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.S.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.P.); (M.V.); (T.S.)
| | - Nataša Petronijević
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.P.); (M.V.); (T.S.)
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Milena Stašević
- Clinic for Mental Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarević”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.S.K.)
| | - Ivana Stašević Karličić
- Clinic for Mental Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarević”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.S.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Priština—Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Milica Velimirović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.P.); (M.V.); (T.S.)
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Tihomir Stojković
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.P.); (M.V.); (T.S.)
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Slavica Ristić
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Mina Stojković
- Clinic for Neurology, University Clinical Centre of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia;
| | - Nataša Milić
- Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
- Department for Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Tatjana Nikolić
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.P.); (M.V.); (T.S.)
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
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8
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Zheng Y, Zhang Q, Zhou X, Yao L, Zhu Q, Fu Z. Altered levels of cytokine, T- and B-lymphocytes, and PD-1 expression rates in drug-naïve schizophrenia patients with acute phase. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21711. [PMID: 38066312 PMCID: PMC10709554 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49206-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have investigated the changes of immune cells and proinflammatory cytokines in patients with acute schizophrenia, but few studies have investigated the functional phenotypes of immune cells and the expression rate of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1). The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of immune cells activation, PD-1/PD-L1 expressions, and altered cytokine levels in drug-naïve schizophrenia patients with acute-phase. 23 drug-naïve schizophrenia patients in acute-phase and 23 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study as experimental and control groups, separately. Socio-demographic information including gender, age, duration of illness, and smoking status was collected for each subject. Beckman DXFLEX triple laser thirteen-color flow cytometer and self-contained software CytoFLEX flow cytometric analysis software were used to detect the expressions of PD-1/PD-L1 on CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, monocytes and NK cells. BD Bioscience was used to examine the levels of cytokines including interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10. Drug-naïve schizophrenia patients in acute-phase had higher levels of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, higher PD-1 expression in B lymphocytes, and lower levels of CD8+ T lymphocytes. In addition, IL-6 levels of peripheral blood were higher in schizophrenia patients (all P < 0.05). Significant immune stress was present in schizophrenia patients with acute-phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Zheng
- Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xianqin Zhou
- Affiliated Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linjuan Yao
- Hangzhou Di'an Medical Laboratory Center Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, China
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Türk Y, Devecioğlu İ, Küskün A, Öge C, Beyazyüz E, Albayrak Y. ROI-based analysis of diffusion indices in healthy subjects and subjects with deficit or non-deficit syndrome schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 336:111726. [PMID: 37925764 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed DTI data involving 22 healthy subjects (HC), 15 patients with deficit syndrome schizophrenia (DSZ), and 25 patients with non-deficit syndrome schizophrenia (NDSZ). We used a 1.5-T MRI scanner to collect diffusion-weighted images and T1 images, which were employed to correct distortions and deformations within the diffusion-weighted images. For 156 regions of interest (ROI), we calculated the average fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusion (MD), and radial diffusion (RD). Each ROI underwent a group-wise comparison using permutation F-test, followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction. In general, we observed lower FA in both schizophrenia groups compared to HC (i.e., HC>(DSZ=NDSZ)), while MD and RD showed the opposite pattern. Notably, specific ROIs with reduced FA in schizophrenia patients included bilateral nucleus accumbens, left fusiform area, brain stem, anterior corpus callosum, left rostral and caudal anterior cingulate, right posterior cingulate, left thalamus, left hippocampus, left inferior temporal cortex, right superior temporal cortex, left pars triangularis and right lingual gyrus. Significantly, the right cuneus exhibited lower FA in the DSZ group compared to other groups ((HC=NDSZ)>DSZ), without affecting MD and RD. These results indicate that compromised neural integrity in the cuneus may contribute to the pathophysiological distinctions between DSZ and NDSZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaşar Türk
- Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University. Namik Kemal Mh., Kampus Cd., Suleymanpasa, Tekirdag 59100, Turkey; Radiology Department, İstanbul Health and Technology University Hospital, Kaptanpasa Mh., Darulaceze Cd., Sisli, İstanbul 34384, Turkey
| | - İsmail Devecioğlu
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Çorlu Faculty of Engineering, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, NKU Corlu Muhendislik Fakultesi, Silahtaraga Mh., Çorlu, Tekirdağ 59860, Turkey.
| | - Atakan Küskün
- Radiology Department, Medical Faculty, Kırklareli University, Cumhuriyet Mh., Kofcaz Yolu, Kayali Yerleskesi, Merkezi Derslikler 2, No 39/L, Merkez, Kırklareli, Turkey
| | - Cem Öge
- Psychiatry Department, Çorlu State Hospital, Zafer, Mah. Bülent Ecevit Blv. No:33, Çorlu, Tekirdağ 59850, Turkey
| | - Elmas Beyazyüz
- Psychiatry Department, Medical Faculty, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University. Namik Kemal Mh., Kampus Cd., Suleymanpasa, Tekirdag 59100, Turkey
| | - Yakup Albayrak
- Psychiatry Department, Medical Faculty, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University. Namik Kemal Mh., Kampus Cd., Suleymanpasa, Tekirdag 59100, Turkey
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10
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Metri NJ, Butt AS, Murali A, Steiner-Lim GZ, Lim CK. Normative Data on Serum and Plasma Tryptophan and Kynurenine Concentrations from 8089 Individuals Across 120 Studies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Tryptophan Res 2023; 16:11786469231211184. [PMID: 38034059 PMCID: PMC10687991 DOI: 10.1177/11786469231211184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a normative dataset is generated from the published literature on the kynurenine pathway in control participants extracted from case-control and methodological validation studies. Study characteristics were mapped, and studies were evaluated in terms of analytical rigour and methodological validation. Meta-analyses of variance between types of instruments, sample matrices and metabolites were conducted. Regression analyses were applied to determine the relationship between metabolite, sample matrix, biological sex, participant age and study age. The grand mean concentrations of tryptophan in the serum and plasma were 60.52 ± 15.38 μM and 51.45 ± 10.47 μM, respectively. The grand mean concentrations of kynurenine in the serum and plasma were 1.96 ± 0.51 μM and 1.82 ± 0.54 μM, respectively. Regional differences in metabolite concentrations were observed across America, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Of the total variance within the data, mode of detection (MOD) accounted for up to 2.96%, sample matrix up to 3.23%, and their interaction explained up to 1.53%; the latter of which was determined to be negligible. This review was intended to inform future empirical research and method development studies and successfully synthesised pilot data. The pilot data reported in this study will inform future precision medicine initiatives aimed at targeting the kynurenine pathway by improving the availability and quality of normative data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najwa-Joelle Metri
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Ali S Butt
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Ava Murali
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Genevieve Z Steiner-Lim
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Chai K Lim
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
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11
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Wang Y, Fang X, Wang G, Tang W, Liu S, Yang Y, Chen J, Ling Y, Zhou C, Zhang X, Zhang C, Su KP. The association between inflammation and kynurenine pathway metabolites in electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia: Implications for clinical efficacy. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:1-11. [PMID: 37353059 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and its interaction with the immune system has been suggested to play a role. In this study, 28 schizophrenia patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited and divided into different inflammatory subgroups using a two-step recursive clustering analysis. Cytokine gene expression and plasma KP metabolites were measured before, during and after treatment. Our findings indicated that schizophrenia patients had lower levels of Tryptophan (TRP), N-formylkynurenine (NFK), xanthinic acid (XA), quinolinic acid (QA), kynurenic acid (KYNA), KYNA/KYN and QA/KYNA, but higher levels of IL-18 mRNA, KYN/TRP compared to healthy controls (all p < 0.05). After electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), patients with low inflammation achieved better clinical improvement (PANSS scores) compared to those with high inflammation (F = 5.672, P = 0.025), especially in negative symptoms (F = 6.382, P = 0.018, η2 = 0.197). While IL-18 mRNA (F = 32.910, P < 0.0001) was significantly decreased following ECT, the KYN/TRP (F = 3.455, p = 0.047) and KYNA/TRP (F = 4.264, P = 0.026) only significantly decreased in patients with low inflammation. Correlation analyses revealed that baseline IL-18 gene expression significantly correlated with pre- (r = 0.537, p = 0.008) and post-KYNA/TRP (r = 0.443, p = 0.034), post-KYN/TRP (r = 0.510, p = 0.013), and post-negative symptoms (r = 0.525, p = 0.010). Moreover, baseline TRP (r = -0.438, p = 0.037) and XA (r = -0.516, p = 0.012) were negatively correlated with baseline PANSS, while post-KYN (r = -0.475, p = 0.022), 2-AA (r = -0.447, p = 0.032) and KYN/TRP (r = -0.566, p = 0.005) were negatively correlated with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) following ECT. Overall, these findings suggested that the association between inflammation and kynurenine pathway plays an essential role in mechanism of ECT for schizophrenia and that the regulation of ECT on KP is influenced by inflammatory characteristics, which may relate to clinical efficacy in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyu Fang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guangfa Wang
- The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Wei Tang
- The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yujing Yang
- The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Yuru Ling
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangrong Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Caiyi Zhang
- The Affiliated Xuzhou Oriental Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Kuan-Pin Su
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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12
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Brum M, Nieberler M, Kehrwald C, Knopf K, Brunkhorst-Kanaan N, Etyemez S, Allers KA, Bittner RA, Slattery DA, McNeill RV, Reif A, Kittel-Schneider S. Phase-and disorder-specific differences in peripheral metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in major depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:564-577. [PMID: 36648064 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2023.2169348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Kynurenine, kynurenic and quinolinic acid are important metabolites in tryptophan metabolism. Due to an involvement in glutamatergic neurotransmission and immune response, previous studies have investigated this pathway in mental disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) or schizophrenia (SCZ). Tryptophan and kynurenine have been shown to be decreased across disorders, hinting at the missing link how inflammation causes neurotoxicity and psychiatric symptoms. The main aim of our study was to investigate if individual catabolites could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for MDD, BD and SCZ. METHODS We measured plasma levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid and ratio of quinolinic acid/kynurenic acid using mass spectrometry in n = 175 participants with acute episodes and after remission, compared with controls. RESULTS Decreased levels of all tryptophan catabolites were found in the whole patient group, driven by the difference between BD and HC. Manic and mixed phase BD individuals displayed significantly lower kynurenine and kynurenic acid levels. We could not find significant differences between disorders. Upon reaching remission, changes in catabolite levels partially normalised. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggests an involvement of the kynurenine pathway in mental disorders, especially BD but disqualifying those metabolites as biomarkers for differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Brum
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Matthias Nieberler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Kehrwald
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katrin Knopf
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nathalie Brunkhorst-Kanaan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Semra Etyemez
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Current: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kelly A Allers
- CNS Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Robert A Bittner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Ernst Struengmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rhiannon V McNeill
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sarah Kittel-Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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13
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Rømer TB, Jeppesen R, Christensen RHB, Benros ME. Biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with psychotic disorders compared to healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2277-2290. [PMID: 37169812 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02059-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders with poorly understood etiology. Biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could provide etiological clues and diagnostic tools for psychosis; however, an unbiased overview of CSF alterations in individuals with psychotic disorders is lacking. The objective of this study was to summarize all quantifiable findings in CSF from individuals with psychotic disorders compared to healthy controls (HC). Studies published before January 25th, 2023 were identified searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and PsycINFO. Screening, full-text review, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers following PRISMA guidelines. Findings in patients and healthy controls were compared and summarized using random-effects analyses and assessment of publication bias, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. 145 studies, covering 197 biomarkers, were included, of which 163 biomarkers have not previously been investigated in meta-analyses. All studies showed some degree of bias. 55 biomarkers measured in CSF were associated with psychosis and of these were 15 biomarkers measured in ≥2 studies. Patients showed increased levels of noradrenaline (standardized mean difference/SMD, 0.53; 95% confidence interval/CI, 0.16 to 0.90) and its metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (SMD, 0.30; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.55), the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (SMD, 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.21), the pro-inflammatory neurotransmitter kynurenic acid (SMD, 1.58; 95% CI: 0.34 to 2.81), its precursor kynurenine (SMD,0.99; 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.38), the cytokines interleukin-6 (SMD, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.77) and interleukin-8 (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.62), the endocannabinoid anandamide (SMD, 0.78; 95% CI: 0.53 to 1.02), albumin ratio (SMD, 0.40; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.72), total protein (SMD, 0.29; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.43), immunoglobulin ratio (SMD, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.85) and glucose (SMD, 0.48; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.94). Neurotensin (SMD, -0.67; 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.46) and γ-aminobutyric acid (SMD, -0.29; 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.09) were decreased. Most biomarkers showed no significant differences, including the dopamine metabolites homovanillic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. These findings suggest that dysregulation of the immune and adrenergic system as well as blood-brain barrier dysfunction are implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troels Boldt Rømer
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rose Jeppesen
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rune Haubo Bojesen Christensen
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Eriksen Benros
- Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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14
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Więdłocha M, Zborowska N, Marcinowicz P, Dębowska W, Dębowska M, Zalewska A, Maciejczyk M, Waszkiewicz N, Szulc A. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers among Schizophrenia Inpatients. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030490. [PMID: 36979300 PMCID: PMC10046541 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Finding the associations between schizophrenia symptoms and the biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and the kynurenine pathway may lead to the individualization of treatment and increase its effectiveness. Methods. The study group included 82 schizophrenia inpatients. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) and the Calgary Depression in Schizophrenia Scale were used for symptom evaluation. Biochemical analyses included oxidative stress parameters and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Results. Linear models revealed the following: (1) malondiadehyde (MDA), N-formylkynurenine (N-formKYN), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end-products of proteins (AGE) and total oxidative status (TOS) levels are related to the PANSS-total score; (2) MDA, reduced glutathione (GSH) and BDNF levels are related to the PANSS-negative score; (3) TOS and kynurenine (KYN) levels are related to the PANSS-positive score; (4) levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and AOPP along with the CDSS score are related to the BACS-total score; (5) TAS and N-formKYN levels are related to the BACS-working memory score. Conclusions. Oxidative stress biomarkers may be associated with the severity of schizophrenia symptoms in positive, negative and cognitive dimensions. The identification of biochemical markers associated with the specific symptom clusters may increase the understanding of biochemical profiles in schizophrenia patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Więdłocha
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Natalia Zborowska
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
| | - Piotr Marcinowicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
| | - Weronika Dębowska
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
| | - Marta Dębowska
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
| | - Anna Zalewska
- Experimental Dentistry Laboratory, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Mateusz Maciejczyk
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Napoleon Waszkiewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, 16-070 Choroszcz, Poland
| | - Agata Szulc
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (N.Z.)
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15
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Skorobogatov K, Autier V, Foiselle M, Richard JR, Boukouaci W, Wu CL, Raynal S, Carbonne C, Laukens K, Meysman P, Coppens V, le Corvoisier P, Barau C, De Picker L, Morrens M, Tamouza R, Leboyer M. Kynurenine pathway abnormalities are state-specific but not diagnosis-specific in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 27:100584. [PMID: 36685639 PMCID: PMC9852293 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are associated with immunological dysfunctions that have been hypothesized to lead to clinical symptomatology in particular through kynurenine pathway abnormalities. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the impact of serum kynurenine metabolite levels on diagnosis, clinical state, symptom severity and clinical course in a large French transdiagnostic cohort of SCZ and BD patients. Four patient groups (total n = 507) were included in a cross-sectional observational study: 1) hospitalized acute bipolar patients (n = 205); 2) stable bipolar outpatients (n = 116); 3) hospitalized acute schizophrenia patients (n = 111) and 4) stable schizophrenia outpatients (n = 75), in addition to healthy controls (HC) (n = 185). The quantitative determination of serum kynurenine metabolites was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Kynurenine levels were lower in all patients combined compared to HC while ANCOVA analyses did not reveal inter-diagnostic difference between SCZ and BD. Interestingly, hospitalized patients of both diagnostic groups combined displayed significantly lower kynurenine levels than stabilized outpatients. Psychotic symptoms were associated with lower quinaldic acid (F = 9.18, p=<.001), which is KAT-driven, whereas a longer duration of illness contributed to abnormalities in tryptophan (F = 5.41, p = .023), kynurenine (F = 16.93, p=<.001), xanthurenic acid (F = 9.34, p = .002), quinolinic acid (F = 9.18, p = .003) and picolinic acid (F = 4.15, p = .043), metabolized through the KMO-branch. These data confirm illness state rather than diagnosis to drive KP alterations in SCZ and BD. Lower levels of KP metabolites can thus be viewed as a transdiagnostic feature of SCZ and BD, independently associated with acute symptomatology and a longer duration of illness. Quinaldic acid has seldomly been investigated by previous studies and appears an important state marker in SCZ and BD. As serum samples are used in this study, it is not possible to extrapolate these findings to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrien Skorobogatov
- Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Hospital Campus Duffel (UPCD), Duffel, Belgium,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium,Corresponding author. Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Hospital Campus Duffel (UPCD), Duffel, Belgium.
| | | | - Marianne Foiselle
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
| | - Jean-Romain Richard
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
| | - Wahid Boukouaci
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
| | - Ching-Lien Wu
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
| | | | | | - Kris Laukens
- Biomedical Informatics Research Center Antwerp (BIOMINA), University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium,Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Meysman
- Biomedical Informatics Research Center Antwerp (BIOMINA), University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium,Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Violette Coppens
- Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Hospital Campus Duffel (UPCD), Duffel, Belgium,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe le Corvoisier
- Inserm, Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1430, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Caroline Barau
- Plateforme de Ressources Biologiques, HU Henri Mondor, F94010, France
| | - Livia De Picker
- Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Hospital Campus Duffel (UPCD), Duffel, Belgium,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Manuel Morrens
- Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Hospital Campus Duffel (UPCD), Duffel, Belgium,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Université Paris Est Creteil, Inserm U955, IMRB Translational Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Creteil, France,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Créteil, France,Fondation FondaMental, Creteil, France
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16
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Mandal PK, Gaur S, Roy RG, Samkaria A, Ingole R, Goel A. Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorders: Overview of Clinical Features, Neurotransmitter Alterations, Pharmacological Interventions, and Impact of Oxidative Stress in the Disease Process. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2784-2802. [PMID: 36125113 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and affect the quality of life of both individuals and the society. The current understanding of these disorders points toward receptor dysfunction and neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain. Treatment protocols are hence oriented toward normalizing these imbalances and ameliorating the symptoms. However, recent literature has indicated the possible role of depleted levels of antioxidants like glutathione (GSH) as well as an alteration in the levels of the pro-oxidant, iron in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric diseases, viz., schizophrenia (Sz), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). This review aims to highlight the involvement of oxidative stress (OS) in these psychiatric disorders. An overview of the clinical features, neurotransmitter abnormalities, and pharmacological treatments concerning these psychiatric disorders has also been presented. Furthermore, it attempts to synthesize literature from existing magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) studies for these disorders, assessing GSH and iron, respectively. This manuscript is a sincere attempt to stimulate research discussion to advance the knowledge base for further understanding of the pathoetiology of Sz, BD, and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravat K Mandal
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana 122050, India.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne School of Medicine Campus, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Shradha Gaur
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana 122050, India
| | - Rimil Guha Roy
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana 122050, India
| | - Avantika Samkaria
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana 122050, India
| | | | - Anshika Goel
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana 122050, India
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17
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Almulla AF, Vasupanrajit A, Tunvirachaisakul C, Al-Hakeim HK, Solmi M, Verkerk R, Maes M. The tryptophan catabolite or kynurenine pathway in schizophrenia: meta-analysis reveals dissociations between central, serum, and plasma compartments. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3679-3691. [PMID: 35422466 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01552-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) since the rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine-dioxygenase (IDO) may be induced by inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators. This systematic review searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for papers published from inception until August 2021 and meta-analyzed the association between SCZ and TRYCATs in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral blood. We included 61 studies comprising 2813 patients and 2948 healthy controls. In the CNS we found a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the kynurenine/tryptophan (KYN/TRP) (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.769, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.456; 1.082) and kynurenic acid (KA)/KYN + TRP (SMD = 0.697, CI: 0.478-0.917) ratios, KA (SMD = 0.646, CI: 0.422; 0.909) and KYN (SMD = 1.238; CI: 0.590; 1.886), while the 3OH-kynurenine (3HK) + KYN-3-monooxygenase (KMO)/KYN ratio was significantly reduced (SMD = -1.089, CI: -1.682; -0.496). There were significant differences between KYN/TRP, (KYN + KA)/TRP, (3HK + KMO)/KYN, KA, and KYN levels among the CNS and peripheral blood, and among serum and plasma KYN. The only useful peripheral marker of CNS TRYCATs findings was the increased KYN/TRP ratio in serum (SMD = 0.211, CI: 0.056; 0.366, p = 0.007), but not in plasma. There was no significant increase in a neurotoxic composite score based on KYN, 3HK, and picolinic, xanthurenic, and quinolinic acid. SCZ is accompanied by increased IDO activity in the CNS and serum, and reduced KMO activity and a shift towards KA production in the CNS. This CNS TRYCATs profile indicates neuroprotective, negative immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Peripheral blood levels of TRYCATs are dissociated from CNS findings except for a modest increase in serum IDO activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas F Almulla
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Asara Vasupanrajit
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Verkerk
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. .,Department of Psychiatry, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
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18
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Tryptophan Challenge in Healthy Controls and People with Schizophrenia: Acute Effects on Plasma Levels of Kynurenine, Kynurenic Acid and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15081003. [PMID: 36015151 PMCID: PMC9416551 DOI: 10.3390/ph15081003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The pivotal tryptophan (TRP) metabolite kynurenine is converted to several neuroactive compounds, including kynurenic acid (KYNA), which is elevated in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of people with schizophrenia (SZ) and may contribute to cognitive abnormalities in patients. A small proportion of TRP is metabolized to serotonin and further to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Notably, KP metabolism is readily affected by immune stimulation. Here, we assessed the acute effects of an oral TRP challenge (6 g) on peripheral concentrations of kynurenine, KYNA and 5-HIAA, as well as the cytokines interferon-γ, TNF-α and interleukin-6, in 22 participants with SZ and 16 healthy controls (HCs) using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. TRP raised the levels of kynurenine, KYNA and 5-HIAA in a time-dependent manner, causing >20-fold, >130-fold and 1.5-fold increases in kynurenine, KYNA and 5-HIAA concentrations, respectively, after 240 min. According to multivariate analyses, neither baseline levels nor the stimulating effects of TRP differed between participants with SZ and HC. Basal cytokine levels did not vary between groups, and remained unaffected by TRP. Although unlikely to be useful diagnostically, measurements of circulating metabolites following an acute TRP challenge may be informative for assessing the in vivo efficacy of drugs that modulate the neosynthesis of KYNA and other products of TRP degradation.
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19
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Guan X, Xu J, Xiu M, Li X, Liu H, Wu F. Kynurenine pathway metabolites and therapeutic response to olanzapine in female patients with schizophrenia: A longitudinal study. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 28:1539-1546. [PMID: 35769008 PMCID: PMC9437236 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM A metabolomics approach has recently been used to identify metabolites associated with response to antipsychotic treatment. This study was designed to identify the predictive biomarkers of response to olanzapine monotherapy using a metabolomics-based strategy. METHODS Twenty-five first-episode and drug-naïve female patients with schizophrenia were recruited and treated with olanzapine for 4 weeks. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and 4-week follow-up. RESULTS Positive subscore, general psychopathology subscore, and PANSS total score were significantly decreased after treatment. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS)-based metabolomics approach identified 72 differential metabolites after treatment. In addition, the baseline levels of methyl n-formylanthranilate (MNFT) were correlated with the rate of reduction in the positive subscore or PANSS total score. However, increase in MNFT after treatment was not associated with the rate of reduction in the PANSS total score or its subscores. Subsequent regression analysis revealed that the baseline MNFT levels predicted the treatment outcomes after olanzapine monotherapy for 4 weeks in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS Our study results suggest that the baseline MNFT levels in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism may be predictive of the treatment response to olanzapine in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoni Guan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Qingdao Mental Health Center, Qingdao Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meihong Xiu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xirong Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fengchun Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
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20
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Jamshed L, Debnath A, Jamshed S, Wish JV, Raine JC, Tomy GT, Thomas PJ, Holloway AC. An Emerging Cross-Species Marker for Organismal Health: Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6300. [PMID: 35682980 PMCID: PMC9181223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential dietary amino acid that, unless otherwise committed to protein synthesis, undergoes metabolism via the Tryptophan-Kynurenine (TRP-KYN) pathway in vertebrate organisms. TRP and its metabolites have key roles in diverse physiological processes including cell growth and maintenance, immunity, disease states and the coordination of adaptive responses to environmental and dietary cues. Changes in TRP metabolism can alter the availability of TRP for protein and serotonin biosynthesis as well as alter levels of the immune-active KYN pathway metabolites. There is now considerable evidence which has shown that the TRP-KYN pathway can be influenced by various stressors including glucocorticoids (marker of chronic stress), infection, inflammation and oxidative stress, and environmental toxicants. While there is little known regarding the role of TRP metabolism following exposure to environmental contaminants, there is evidence of linkages between chemically induced metabolic perturbations and altered TRP enzymes and KYN metabolites. Moreover, the TRP-KYN pathway is conserved across vertebrate species and can be influenced by exposure to xenobiotics, therefore, understanding how this pathway is regulated may have broader implications for environmental and wildlife toxicology. The goal of this narrative review is to (1) identify key pathways affecting Trp-Kyn metabolism in vertebrates and (2) highlight consequences of altered tryptophan metabolism in mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish. We discuss current literature available across species, highlight gaps in the current state of knowledge, and further postulate that the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio can be used as a novel biomarker for assessing organismal and, more broadly, ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laiba Jamshed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (L.J.); (A.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Amrita Debnath
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (L.J.); (A.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Shanza Jamshed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (L.J.); (A.D.); (S.J.)
| | - Jade V. Wish
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Oil and Gas Research and Development (COGRAD), University of Manitoba, 586 Parker Building, 144 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; (J.V.W.); (G.T.T.)
| | - Jason C. Raine
- Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada;
| | - Gregg T. Tomy
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Oil and Gas Research and Development (COGRAD), University of Manitoba, 586 Parker Building, 144 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; (J.V.W.); (G.T.T.)
| | - Philippe J. Thomas
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada;
| | - Alison C. Holloway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (L.J.); (A.D.); (S.J.)
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21
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Prevalence, profile and associations of cognitive impairment in Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients. Schizophr Res Cogn 2022; 28:100234. [PMID: 35024348 PMCID: PMC8728100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2021.100234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The MATRICS consensus cognitive battery (MCCB) is the gold standard for neuropsychological assessment in psychotic disorders but is rarely used in low resource settings. This study used the MCCB to determine the prevalence, profile and associations of various exposures with cognitive impairment in Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients. Methods Patients and matched healthy controls were recruited at Butabika Hospital in Uganda. Clinical variables were first collated, and after the resolution of psychotic symptoms, a neuropsychological assessment of seven cognitive domains was performed using the MCCB. Cognitive impairment was defined as two standard deviations (SD) below the mean in one domain or 1SD below the mean in two domains. Descriptive statistics determined the prevalence and profile of impairment while regression models determined the association between various exposures with cognitive scores while controlling for age, sex and education. Results Neuropsychological assessment with the MCCB found the burden of cognitive impairment in first-episode psychosis patients five times that of healthy controls. The visual learning and memory domain was most impaired in first-episode psychosis patients, while it was the working memory domain for the healthy controls. Increased age was associated with impairment in the domains of the speed of processing (p < 0.001) and visual learning and memory (p = 0.001). Cassava-rich diets and previous alternative and complementary therapy use were negatively associated with impairment in the visual learning (p = 0.04) and attention/vigilance domains (p = 0.012), respectively. There were no significant associations between sex, history of childhood trauma, or illness severity with any cognitive domain. Conclusion A significant burden of cognitive impairment in Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients is consistent with prior data from other contexts. However, the profile of and risk factors for impairment differ from that described in such work. Therefore, interventions to reduce cognitive impairment in FEP patients specific to this setting, including dietary modifications, are required.
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22
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Podwalski P, Tyburski E, Szczygieł K, Rudkowski K, Waszczuk K, Andrusewicz W, Kucharska-Mazur J, Michalczyk A, Mak M, Cyranka K, Misiak B, Sagan L, Samochowiec J. Psychopathology and Integrity of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus in Deficit and Nondeficit Schizophrenia. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020267. [PMID: 35204030 PMCID: PMC8870217 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) is a white matter bundle that connects the frontal areas with the parietal areas. As part of the visuospatial attentional network, it may be involved in the development of schizophrenia. Deficit syndrome (DS) is characterized by primary and enduring negative symptoms. The present study assessed SLF integrity in DS and nondeficit schizophrenia (NDS) patients and examined possible relationships between it and psychopathology. Twenty-six DS patients, 42 NDS patients, and 36 healthy controls (HC) underwent psychiatric evaluation and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). After post-processing, fractional anisotropy (FA) values within the SLF were analyzed. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Brief Negative Symptom Scale, and Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms. The PANSS proxy for the deficit syndrome was used to diagnose DS. NDS patients had lower FA values than HC. DS patients had greater negative symptoms than NDS patients. After differentiating clinical groups and HC, we found no significant correlations between DTI measures and psychopathological dimensions. These results suggest that changes in SLF integrity are related to schizophrenia, and frontoparietal dysconnection plays a role in its etiopathogenesis. We confirmed that DS patients have greater negative psychopathology than NDS patients. These results are preliminary; further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Podwalski
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ernest Tyburski
- Department of Health Psychology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (E.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Krzysztof Szczygieł
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Krzysztof Rudkowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Katarzyna Waszczuk
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Wojciech Andrusewicz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland; (W.A.); (L.S.)
| | - Jolanta Kucharska-Mazur
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Anna Michalczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Monika Mak
- Department of Health Psychology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (E.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Cyranka
- Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-501 Krakow, Poland;
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-501 Krakow, Poland
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Leszek Sagan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland; (W.A.); (L.S.)
| | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (K.S.); (K.R.); (K.W.); (J.K.-M.); (A.M.); (J.S.)
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23
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Liang Y, Shi X, Shen Y, Huang Z, Wang J, Shao C, Chu Y, Chen J, Yu J, Kang Y. Enhanced intestinal protein fermentation in schizophrenia. BMC Med 2022; 20:67. [PMID: 35135531 PMCID: PMC8827269 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02261-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging findings highlighted the associations of mental illness to nutrition and dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiota, but the underlying mechanisms, especially in schizophrenia (SZ), remain unclarified. METHODS We conducted a case-control study of SZ patients (case to control=100:52) by performing sequencing of the gut metagenome; measurement of fecal and plasma non-targeted metabolome; including short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids; and targeted metabolites, along with recorded details of daily intakes of food. RESULTS The metagenome analysis uncovered enrichment of asaccharolytic species and reduced abundance of carbohydrate catabolism pathways and enzymes in the gut of SZ patients, but increased abundance of peptidases in contrast to their significantly reduced protein intake. Fecal metabolome analysis identified increased concentrations of many protein catabolism products, including amino acids (AAs), urea, branched short-chain fatty acids, and various nitrogenous derivates of aromatic AAs in SZ patients. Protein synthesis, represented by the abundance of AA-biosynthesis pathways and aminoacyl-tRNA transferases in metagenome, was significantly decreased. The AUCs (area under the curve) of the diagnostic random forest models based on their abundance achieved 85% and 91%, respectively. The fecal levels of AA-fermentative enzymes and products uniformly showed positive correlations with the severity of psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed apparent dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiome of SZ patients, where microbial metabolism is dominated by protein fermentation and shift from carbohydrate fermentation and protein synthesis in healthy conditions. The aberrant macronutrient metabolism by gut microbes highlights the importance of nutrition care and the potential for developing microbiota-targeted therapeutics in SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yang Shen
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuoran Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, ,235000, Anhui, China
| | - Jian Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Changjun Shao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanan Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jing Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jun Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu Kang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China.
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24
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Zhou S, Huang Y, Kuang Q, Yan S, Li H, Wu K, Wu F, Huang X. Kynurenine pathway metabolites are associated with gray matter volume in subjects with schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:941479. [PMID: 36016974 PMCID: PMC9395706 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.941479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been growing evidence of the existence of abnormalities in the kynurenine pathway (KP) and structural gray matter volume (GMV) in schizophrenia (SCZ). Numerous studies have suggested that abnormal kynurenine metabolism (KM) in the brain is clearly associated with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and may be one of the pathological mechanisms of SCZ. In this pilot study, we investigated whether there was a correlation between KP and GMV in schizophrenia patients. METHODS The plasma levels of KM were measured in 41 patients who met the Structured Clinical Interview of the Diagnostic IV criteria for schizophrenia and 60 healthy controls by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and cortical thickness (as measured via magnetic resonance imaging) was obtained. RESULTS Our study showed no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of kynurenine (KYN), tryptophan (TRP), and KYNA/TRP (all p > 0.05), but kynurenic acid (KYNA) and the KYNA/KYN ratio were significantly higher in the schizophrenia subjects than in the healthy controls (F = 4.750, p = 0.032; F = 6.153, p = 0.015, respectively) after controlling for age and sex. Spearman's tests showed that KYN concentrations in SCZ patients were negatively correlated with GMV in the left front cingulate belt (r = -0.325, p = 0.046) and that KYN/TRP was negatively correlated with GMV in the left island (r = -0.396, p = 0.014) and right island (r = -0.385, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION Our findings appear to provide new insights into the predisposition of an imbalance in the relative metabolism of KYN/TRP and KYN to GMV in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiao Zhou
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qijie Kuang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Su Yan
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hehua Li
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengchun Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xingbing Huang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Huang Y, Zhao M, Chen X, Zhang R, Le A, Hong M, Zhang Y, Jia L, Zang W, Jiang C, Wang J, Fan X, Wang J. Tryptophan Metabolism in Central Nervous System Diseases: Pathophysiology and Potential Therapeutic Strategies. Aging Dis 2022; 14:858-878. [PMID: 37191427 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of L-tryptophan (TRP) regulates homeostasis, immunity, and neuronal function. Altered TRP metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various diseases of the central nervous system. TRP is metabolized through two main pathways, the kynurenine pathway and the methoxyindole pathway. First, TRP is metabolized to kynurenine, then kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, anthranilic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and finally 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid along the kynurenine pathway. Second, TRP is metabolized to serotonin and melatonin along the methoxyindole pathway. In this review, we summarize the biological properties of key metabolites and their pathogenic functions in 12 disorders of the central nervous system: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. Furthermore, we summarize preclinical and clinical studies, mainly since 2015, that investigated the metabolic pathway of TRP, focusing on changes in biomarkers of these neurologic disorders, their pathogenic implications, and potential therapeutic strategies targeting this metabolic pathway. This critical, comprehensive, and up-to-date review helps identify promising directions for future preclinical, clinical, and translational research on neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Skorobogatov K, De Picker L, Verkerk R, Coppens V, Leboyer M, Müller N, Morrens M. Brain Versus Blood: A Systematic Review on the Concordance Between Peripheral and Central Kynurenine Pathway Measures in Psychiatric Disorders. Front Immunol 2021; 12:716980. [PMID: 34630391 PMCID: PMC8495160 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.716980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Disturbances in the kynurenine pathway have been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic and mood disorders, as well as several other psychiatric illnesses. It remains uncertain however to what extent metabolite levels detectable in plasma or serum reflect brain kynurenine metabolism and other disease-specific pathophysiological changes. The primary objective of this systematic review was to investigate the concordance between peripheral and central (CSF or brain tissue) kynurenine metabolites. As secondary aims we describe their correlation with illness course, treatment response, and neuroanatomical abnormalities in psychiatric diseases. Methods We performed a systematic literature search until February 2021 in PubMed. We included 27 original research articles describing a correlation between peripheral and central kynurenine metabolite measures in preclinical studies and human samples from patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders and other conditions. We also included 32 articles reporting associations between peripheral KP markers and symptom severity, CNS pathology or treatment response in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. Results For kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine, moderate to strong concordance was found between peripheral and central concentrations not only in psychiatric disorders, but also in other (patho)physiological conditions. Despite discordant findings for other metabolites (mainly tryptophan and kynurenic acid), blood metabolite levels were associated with clinical symptoms and treatment response in psychiatric patients, as well as with observed neuroanatomical abnormalities and glial activity. Conclusion Only kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine demonstrated a consistent and reliable concordance between peripheral and central measures. Evidence from psychiatric studies on kynurenine pathway concordance is scarce, and more research is needed to determine the validity of peripheral kynurenine metabolite assessment as proxy markers for CNS processes. Peripheral kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine may nonetheless represent valuable predictive and prognostic biomarker candidates for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrien Skorobogatov
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Livia De Picker
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Robert Verkerk
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Violette Coppens
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Marion Leboyer
- INSERM U955, Equipe Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Créteil, France.,Fondation FondaMental - Hôpital Albert Chenevier - Pôle Psychiatrie, Créteil, France.,AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, DHU Pepsy, Pôle de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie, Créteil, France.,Université Paris Est Créteil, Faculté de Médecine, Creteil, France
| | - Norbert Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München, Germany
| | - Manuel Morrens
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Scientific Initiative of Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies (SINAPS), University Psychiatric Centre Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
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27
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Davidson M, Levi L, Park J, Nastas I, Ford L, Rassnick S, Canuso C, Davis JM, Weiser M. The effects of JNJ-39393406 a positive allosteric nicotine modulator on mood and cognition in patients with unipolar depression: A double-blind, add-on, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 51:33-42. [PMID: 34023797 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic agonists have been shown to improve cognition and mood, but this improvement is inconsistent and short-lived, possibly due to receptor desensitization. Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs) of the nicotinic alpha-7 nicotinic-acetyl-choline receptor (a7nAChR) are hypothesized to change the configuration of the nicotinic receptor and delay desensitization, potentially increasing the duration of the activation of the receptor, and improving clinical efficacy. This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) adding JNJ-39393406 9 (a PAM of the a7nAChR) (n=35) or placebo (n=36) to treatment as usual for two weeks in 71 patients with unipolar depression. Mixed models for repeated measures analyses were performed Primary outcome measures were the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) composite and the Montgomery-Asperg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores. The drug was well tolerated, however mixed models for repeated measures comparing JNJ-39393406 to placebo showed no significant difference for MADRS total score (p=0.78), BACS composite score (p=0.34), or any of the secondary outcome measures. There was no significant difference in adverse events between the study groups (p=0.44). In conclusion, this study's findings do not support the hypothesis that a positive nicotinic receptor modulator can improve cognitive or depressive symptomatology in patients with unipolar depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Linda Levi
- Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Jinyoung Park
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Igor Nastas
- Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy Nicolae Testemitanu, Moldova
| | - Lisa Ford
- Janssen Research & Development LLC, USA
| | | | | | - John M Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mark Weiser
- Department of Psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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28
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Mammoli A, Riccio A, Bianconi E, Coletti A, Camaioni E, Macchiarulo A. One Key and Multiple Locks: Substrate Binding in Structures of Tryptophan Dioxygenases and Hydroxylases. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2732-2743. [PMID: 34137184 PMCID: PMC8518741 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery at the beginning of the past century, the essential nutrient l-Tryptophan (l-Trp) and its catabolic pathways have acquired an increasing interest in an ever wider scientific community for their pivotal roles in underlying many important physiological functions and associated pathological conditions. As a consequence, enzymes catalyzing rate limiting steps along l-Trp catabolic pathways - including IDO1, TDO, TPH1 and TPH2 - have turned to be interesting drug targets for the design and development of novel therapeutic agents for different disorders such as carcinoid syndrome, cancer and autoimmune diseases. This article provides a fresh comparative overview on the most recent advancements that crystallographic studies, biophysical and computational works have brought on structural aspects and molecular recognition patterns of these enzymes toward l-Trp. Finally, a conformational analysis of l-Trp is also discussed as part of the molecular recognition process governing the binding of a substrate to its cognate enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mammoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PerugiaVia del Liceo N. 106123PerugiaItaly
| | - Alessandra Riccio
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PerugiaVia del Liceo N. 106123PerugiaItaly
| | - Elisa Bianconi
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PerugiaVia del Liceo N. 106123PerugiaItaly
| | - Alice Coletti
- Department of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PerugiaP. le Gambuli06132PerugiaItaly
| | - Emidio Camaioni
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PerugiaVia del Liceo N. 106123PerugiaItaly
| | - Antonio Macchiarulo
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of PerugiaVia del Liceo N. 106123PerugiaItaly
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29
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Juchnowicz D, Dzikowski M, Rog J, Waszkiewicz N, Karakuła KH, Zalewska A, Maciejczyk M, Karakula-Juchnowicz H. Pro/Antioxidant State as a Potential Biomarker of Schizophrenia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10184156. [PMID: 34575267 PMCID: PMC8466193 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10184156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To allow better diagnosis and management of psychiatric illnesses, the use of easily accessible biomarkers are proposed. Therefore, recognition of some diseases by a set of related pathogenesis biomarkers is a promising approach. The study aims to assess the usefulness of examining oxidative stress (OS) in schizophrenia as a potential biomarker of illness using the commonly used data mining decision tree method. The study group was comprised of 147 participants: 98 patients with schizophrenia (SZ group), and the control group (n = 49; HC). The patients with schizophrenia were divided into two groups: first-episode schizophrenia (n = 49; FS) and chronic schizophrenia (n = 49; CS). The assessment included the following biomarkers in sera of patients: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), dityrosine (DITYR), kynurenine (KYN), N-formylkynurenine (NFK), tryptophan (TRY), total oxidant status (TOS), nitric oxide (NO) and total protein. Maximum accuracy (89.36%) for distinguishing SZ from HC was attained with TOS and GPx (cut-off points: 392.70 and 15.33). For differentiating between FS and CS, the most promising were KYN, AOPP, TAC and NO (100%; cut-off points: 721.20, 0.55, 64.76 and 2.59). To distinguish FS from HC, maximum accuracy was found for GSH and TOS (100%; cut-off points: 859.96 and 0.31), and in order to distinguish CS from HC, the most promising were GSH and TOS (100%; cut-off points: 0.26 and 343.28). Using redox biomarkers would be the most promising approach for discriminating patients with schizophrenia from healthy individuals and, in the future, could be used as an add-on marker to diagnose and/or respond to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Juchnowicz
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, 20-124 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Michał Dzikowski
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.); (K.H.K.); (H.K.-J.)
| | - Joanna Rog
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.); (K.H.K.); (H.K.-J.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Napoleon Waszkiewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Bialystok, 16-070 Choroszcz, Poland;
| | - Kaja Hanna Karakuła
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.); (K.H.K.); (H.K.-J.)
| | - Anna Zalewska
- Experimental Dentistry Laboratory and Department of Restorative Dentistry, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-437 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Mateusz Maciejczyk
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland; (M.D.); (K.H.K.); (H.K.-J.)
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30
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Joisten N, Ruas JL, Braidy N, Guillemin GJ, Zimmer P. The kynurenine pathway in chronic diseases: a compensatory mechanism or a driving force? Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:946-954. [PMID: 34373202 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism is dysregulated in inflammation-driven pathologies including oncological and brain diseases [e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS), depression] and thus is a promising therapeutic target. Both pathological and compensatory mechanisms underlie disease-associated KP activation. There is growing evidence for bioenergetic roles of certain KP metabolites such as kynurenic acid (KA), or quinolinic acid (QA) as an NAD+ precursor, which may explain its frequently observed 'pathological' overactivation. Disease- and tissue-specific aspects, negative feedback on inflammatory signals, and the balance of downstream metabolites are likely to be decisive factors in the interpretation of an imbalanced KP. Therapeutic strategies should consider the compensatory actions and bioenergetic roles of KP metabolites to successfully design future theragnostic approaches aimed at attenuating disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Joisten
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Jorge L Ruas
- Molecular and Cellular Exercise Physiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philipp Zimmer
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
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31
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Molina JD, Avila S, Rubio G, López-Muñoz F. Metabolomic connections between schizophrenia, antipsychotic drugs and metabolic syndrome: A variety of players. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:4049-4061. [PMID: 34348619 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210804110139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of schizophrenia lacks of reliable medical diagnostic tests and robust biomarkers applied to clinical practice. Schizophrenic patients undergoing treatment with antipsychotics suffer a reduced life expectancy due to metabolic disarrangements that co-exist with their mental illness and predispose them to develop metabolic syndrome, also exacerbated by medication. Metabolomics is an emerging and potent technology able to accelerate this biomedical research. <P> Aim: This review focus on a detailed vision of the molecular mechanisms involved both in schizophrenia and antipsychotic-induced metabolic syndrome, based on innovative metabolites that consistently change in nascent metabolic syndrome, drug-naïve, first episode psychosis and/or schizophrenic patients compared to healthy subjects. <P> Main lines: Supported by metabolomic approaches, although not exclusively, noteworthy variations are reported mainly through serum samples of patients and controls in several scenes: 1) alterations in fatty acids, inflammatory response indicators, amino acids and biogenic amines, biometals and gut microbiota metabolites (schizophrenia); 2) alterations in metabolites involved in carbohydrate and gut microbiota metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress (metabolic syndrome), some of them shared with the schizophrenia scene; 3) alterations of cytokines secreted by adipose tissue, phosphatidylcholines, acylcarnitines, Sirtuin 1, orexin-A and changes in microbiota composition (antipsychotic-induced metabolic syndrome). <P> Conclusion: Novel insights into the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and metabolic side-effects associated to its antipsychotic treatment, represent an urgent request for scientifics and clinicians. Leptin, carnitines, adiponectin, insulin or interleukin-6 represent some examples of candidate biomarkers. Cutting-edge technologies like metabolomics have the power of strengthen research for achieving preventive, diagnostic and therapeutical solutions for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Molina
- Clinical Management Area of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Psychiatric Service, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid. Spain
| | - Sonia Avila
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid. Spain
| | - Gabriel Rubio
- Clinical Management Area of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Psychiatric Service, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid. Spain
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32
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Rodrigues FB, Byrne LM, Lowe AJ, Tortelli R, Heins M, Flik G, Johnson EB, De Vita E, Scahill RI, Giorgini F, Wild EJ. Kynurenine pathway metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid and blood as potential biomarkers in Huntington's disease. J Neurochem 2021; 158:539-553. [PMID: 33797782 PMCID: PMC8375100 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence from several models, and post-mortem human brain tissue studies, support the involvement of the kynurenine pathway (KP) in Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis. Quantifying KP metabolites in HD biofluids is desirable, both to study pathobiology and as a potential source of biomarkers to quantify pathway dysfunction and evaluate the biochemical impact of therapeutic interventions targeting its components. In a prospective single-site controlled cohort study with standardised collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, phenotypic and imaging data, we used high-performance liquid-chromatography to measure the levels of KP metabolites-tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, anthranilic acid and quinolinic acid-in CSF and plasma of 80 participants (20 healthy controls, 20 premanifest HD and 40 manifest HD). We investigated short-term stability, intergroup differences, associations with clinical and imaging measures and derived sample-size calculation for future studies. Overall, KP metabolites in CSF and plasma were stable over 6 weeks, displayed no significant group differences and were not associated with clinical or imaging measures. We conclude that the studied metabolites are readily and reliably quantifiable in both biofluids in controls and HD gene expansion carriers. However, we found little evidence to support a substantial derangement of the KP in HD, at least to the extent that it is reflected by the levels of the metabolites in patient-derived biofluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe B. Rodrigues
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Lauren M. Byrne
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Alexander J. Lowe
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Rosanna Tortelli
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Gunnar Flik
- Charles River LaboratoriesGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Eileanoir B. Johnson
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Enrico De Vita
- Lysholm Department of NeuroradiologyNational Hospital for Neurology & NeurosurgeryLondonUK
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringSchool of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Rachael I. Scahill
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome BiologyUniversity of LeicesterLeicesterUK
| | - Edward J. Wild
- UCL Huntington's Disease CentreUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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33
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Okamoto N, Natsuyama T, Igata R, Konishi Y, Tesen H, Ikenouchi A, Yoshimura R. Associations Between the Kynurenine Pathway, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:696059. [PMID: 34393855 PMCID: PMC8357143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.696059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The kynurenine (Kyn) pathway may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This pathway shows crosstalk with proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and/or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Moreover, Kyn metabolites affect neurotransmission and cause neurotoxicity. To date, the influence of the Kyn pathway on proinflammatory cytokines and BDNF remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of the Kyn pathway with proinflammatory cytokines, BDNF, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Thirty patients with schizophrenia and ten healthy control participants were recruited for this study. All patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The healthy controls were those who did not fulfill any of the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. The serum levels of Kyn and its metabolites, proinflammatory cytokines, and BDNF were measured in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Patients with schizophrenia were also assessed for psychiatric symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: Patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls showed no significant differences in the levels of Kyn and its metabolites, proinflammatory cytokines, and BDNF. A significant positive correlation was found between the serum levels of TNF-α and Kyn (r = 0.53, p = 0.0026) and the Kyn/tryptophan (Trp) value (r = 0.67, p = 0.000046) in the schizophrenia group, but not in the healthy control group. Conclusion: TNF-α affects the Kyn pathway in patients with chronic schizophrenia, but not in the healthy individuals, although serum TNF-α levels showed no difference between the two groups. Associations between the Kyn pathway and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and BDNF or psychotic symptoms might be complicated in hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomichi Okamoto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tomoya Natsuyama
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Ryohei Igata
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yuki Konishi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Tesen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ikenouchi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Reiji Yoshimura
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
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