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Frescura F, Stark T, Tiziani E, Di Martino S, Ruda-Kucerova J, Drago F, Ferraro L, Micale V, Beggiato S. Prenatal MAM exposure raises kynurenic acid levels in the prefrontal cortex of adult rats. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:887-894. [PMID: 38789891 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00604-6] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elevated brain levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a metabolite in the kynurenine pathway, are associated with cognitive dysfunctions, which are nowadays often considered as fundamental characteristics of several psychopathologies; however, the role of KYNA in mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess KYNA levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats prenatally treated with methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate, i.e., a well-validated neurodevelopmental animal model of schizophrenia. The effects of an early pharmacological modulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system were also evaluated. METHODS Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with MAM (22 mg/kg, ip) or its vehicle at gestational day 17. Male offspring were treated with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist AM251 (0.5 mg/kg/day, ip) or with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol (0.6 mg/kg/day, ip) from postnatal day (PND) 19 to PND39. The locomotor activity and cognitive performance were assessed in the novel object recognition test and the open field test in adulthood. KYNA levels in the PFC of prenatally MAM-treated rats were also assessed. RESULTS A significant cognitive impairment was observed in prenatally MAM-treated rats (p < 0.01), which was associated with enhanced PFC KYNA levels (p < 0.05). The peripubertal AM251, but not haloperidol, treatment ameliorated the cognitive deficit (p < 0.05), by normalizing the PFC KYNA content in MAM rats. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that the cognitive deficit observed in MAM rats may be related to enhanced PFC KYNA levels which could be, in turn, mediated by the activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptor. These results further support the modulation of brain KYNA levels as a potential therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Frescura
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tibor Stark
- Department Emotion Research, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80807, Munich, Germany
| | - Edoardo Tiziani
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Serena Di Martino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Jana Ruda-Kucerova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- Psychiatric Department, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
- Psychiatric Department, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Fujikawa M, Ueda M, Maruyama K. Role of Kynurenine and Its Derivatives in the Neuroimmune System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7144. [PMID: 39000249 PMCID: PMC11241229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing realization of intricate interactions between the nervous and immune systems, characterized by shared humoral factors and receptors. This interplay forms the basis of the neuroimmune system, the understanding of which will provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, in which the involvement of the immune system has been overlooked. Kynurenine and its derivatives derived from tryptophan have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. Recent studies have revealed their close association not only with neurological disorders but also with sepsis-related deaths. This review provides an overview of the biochemistry of kynurenine and its derivatives, followed by a discussion of their role via the modulation of the neuroimmune system in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Fujikawa
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Ueda
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenta Maruyama
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
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Yang S, Datta D, Krienen FM, Ling E, Woo E, May A, Anderson GM, Galvin VC, Gonzalez-Burgos G, Lewis DA, McCarroll SA, Arnsten AF, Wang M. Kynurenic acid inflammatory signaling expands in primates and impairs prefrontal cortical cognition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.13.598842. [PMID: 38915595 PMCID: PMC11195225 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.13.598842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) dysfunction are common in neuroinflammatory disorders, including long-COVID, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, and have been correlated with kynurenine inflammatory signaling. Kynurenine is further metabolized to kynurenic acid (KYNA) in brain, where it blocks NMDA and α7-nicotinic receptors (nic-α7Rs). These receptors are essential for neurotransmission in dlPFC, suggesting that KYNA may cause higher cognitive deficits in these disorders. The current study found that KYNA and its synthetic enzyme, KAT II, have greatly expanded expression in primate dlPFC in both glia and neurons. Local application of KYNA onto dlPFC neurons markedly reduced the delay-related firing needed for working memory via actions at NMDA and nic-α7Rs, while inhibition of KAT II enhanced neuronal firing in aged macaques. Systemic administration of agents that reduce KYNA production similarly improved cognitive performance in aged monkeys, suggesting a therapeutic avenue for the treatment of cognitive deficits in neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Klausing AD, Fukuwatari T, DeAngeli N, Bucci DJ, Schwarcz R. Adrenalectomy exacerbates stress-induced impairment in fear discrimination: A causal role for kynurenic acid? Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116350. [PMID: 38852644 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116350] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Impaired activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and reduced blood levels of glucocorticoids (GCs) are signature features of stress-related maladies. Recent evidence suggests a possible role of the tryptophan metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) in this context. Here we investigated possible causal relationships in adult male rats, using stress-induced fear discrimination as a translationally relevant behavioral outcome measure. One week following adrenalectomy (ADX) or sham surgery, animals were for 2 h either physically restrained or exposed to a predator odor, which caused a much milder stress response. Extracellular KYNA levels were determined before, during and after stress by in vivo microdialysis in the prefrontal cortex. Separate cohorts underwent a fear discrimination procedure starting immediately after stress termination. Different auditory conditioned stimuli (CS) were either paired with a foot shock (CS+) or non-reinforced (CS-). One week later, fear was assessed by re-exposing the animals to each CS. Separate groups of rats were treated with the KYNA synthesis inhibitor BFF-816 prior to stress initiation to test a causal role of KYNA in fear discrimination. Restraint stress raised extracellular KYNA levels by ∼85 % in ADX rats for several hours, and these animals were unable to discriminate between CS+ and CS-. Both effects were prevented by BFF-816 and were not observed after exposure to predator odor or in sham-operated rats. These findings suggest that a causal connection exists between adrenal function, stress-induced KYNA increases, and behavioral deficits. Pharmacological inhibition of KYNA synthesis may therefore be an attractive, novel option for the treatment of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex D Klausing
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tsutomu Fukuwatari
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole DeAngeli
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - David J Bucci
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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5
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Kondo T, Okada Y, Shizuya S, Yamaguchi N, Hatakeyama S, Maruyama K. Neuroimmune modulation by tryptophan derivatives in neurological and inflammatory disorders. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151418. [PMID: 38729083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151418] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The nervous and immune systems are highly developed, and each performs specialized physiological functions. However, they work together, and their dysfunction is associated with various diseases. Specialized molecules, such as neurotransmitters, cytokines, and more general metabolites, are essential for the appropriate regulation of both systems. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is converted into functional molecules such as serotonin and kynurenine, both of which play important roles in the nervous and immune systems. The role of kynurenine metabolites in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases has recently received particular attention. Recently, we found that hyperactivity of the kynurenine pathway is a critical risk factor for septic shock. In this review, we first outline neuroimmune interactions and tryptophan derivatives and then summarized the changes in tryptophan metabolism in neurological disorders. Finally, we discuss the potential of tryptophan derivatives as therapeutic targets for neuroimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kondo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8636, Japan
| | - Yuka Okada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
| | - Saika Shizuya
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
| | - Naoko Yamaguchi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Shigetsugu Hatakeyama
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8636, Japan
| | - Kenta Maruyama
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
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Rentschler KM, Milosavljevic S, Baratta AM, Wright CJ, Piroli MV, Tentor Z, Valafar H, O’Reilly C, Pocivavsek A. Reducing brain kynurenic acid synthesis precludes kynurenine-induced sleep disturbances. J Sleep Res 2024; 33:e14038. [PMID: 37678806 PMCID: PMC10918043 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14038] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Patients with neurocognitive disorders often battle sleep disturbances. Kynurenic acid is a tryptophan metabolite of the kynurenine pathway implicated in the pathology of these illnesses. Modest increases in kynurenic acid, an antagonist at glutamatergic and cholinergic receptors, result in cognitive impairments and sleep dysfunction. We explored the hypothesis that inhibition of the kynurenic acid synthesising enzyme, kynurenine aminotransferase II, may alleviate sleep disturbances. At the start of the light phase, adult male and female Wistar rats received systemic injections of either: (i) vehicle; (ii) kynurenine (100 mg kg-1; i.p.); (iii) the kynurenine aminotransferase II inhibitor, PF-04859989 (30 mg kg-1; s.c.); or (iv) PF-04859989 and kynurenine in combination. Kynurenine and kynurenic acid levels were evaluated in the plasma and brain. Separate animals were implanted with electroencephalogram and electromyogram telemetry devices to record polysomnography, and evaluate the vigilance states wake, rapid eye movement sleep and non-rapid eye movement sleep following each treatment. Kynurenine challenge increased brain kynurenic acid and resulted in reduced rapid eye movement sleep duration, non-rapid eye movement sleep delta power and sleep spindles. PF-04859989 reduced brain kynurenic acid formation when given prior to kynurenine, prevented disturbances in rapid eye movement sleep and sleep spindles, and enhanced non-rapid eye movement sleep. Our findings suggest that reducing kynurenic acid in conditions where the kynurenine pathway is activated may serve as a potential strategy for improving sleep dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Rentschler
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Snezana Milosavljevic
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Annalisa M. Baratta
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Current affiliation: Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Courtney J. Wright
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Maria V. Piroli
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Zachary Tentor
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Homayoun Valafar
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Christian O’Reilly
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
- Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Ana Pocivavsek
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Columbia, SC, USA
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Antenucci N, D'Errico G, Fazio F, Nicoletti F, Bruno V, Battaglia G. Changes in kynurenine metabolites in the gray and white matter of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of individuals affected by schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:27. [PMID: 38413629 PMCID: PMC10899223 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00447-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Alterations in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of all metabolites of the kynurenine pathway, i.e., tryptophan (TRY), kynurenic acid (KYNA), L-kynurenine (KYN), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), anthranylic acid (ANA), 3-hydroxyanthranylic acid (3-HANA), xanthurenic acid (XA) and quinolinic acid (QUINA), in postmortem samples of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, Brodmann area 46, 9) of individuals affected by schizophrenia and non-schizophrenic controls. The analysis was carried out in the gray and white matter. Levels of KYN, 3-HK, ANA, and 3-HANA were significantly increased in both the gray and white matter of the DLPFC of individuals affected by schizophrenia, whereas levels of TRY, KYNA, and QUINA were increased exclusively in the white matter and remained unchanged in the gray matter. These increases in kynurenine metabolites did not correlate with age, sex, duration of the disease, and duration and type of antipsychotic medication. These findings suggest that the two major branches of the kynurenine pathway, i.e., the transamination of KYN into KYNA, and hydroxylation of KYN into 3-HK are activated in the white matter of individuals affected by schizophrenia, perhaps as a result of neuroinflammation, and support the evidence that abnormalities of the white matter are consistenly associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Antenucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | | | - Francesco Fazio
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Valeria Bruno
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Battaglia
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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Yang C, Tian Y, Yang X, Liu L, Ling C, Xia L, Liu H. Hematological and inflammatory markers in Han Chinese patients with drug-free schizophrenia: relationship with symptom severity. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1337103. [PMID: 38352871 PMCID: PMC10861680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that immunity and inflammation play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between hematological and inflammatory markers with symptom severity in Han Chinese patients with drug-free schizophrenia. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University and data were extracted from the electronic medical record system over a 5-year period (May 2017 to April 2022), including participants' general and clinical information as well as Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores and hematological parameters. Results A total of 2,899 patients with schizophrenia were identified through the initial search. After screening, 91 patients and 141 healthy controls (HCs) were included. The patients had a higher value of neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) than HCs (all P < 0.001). MLR was positively correlated with BPRS total score (r = 0.337, P = 0.001) and resistance subscale score (r = 0.350, P = 0.001). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that severely ill was significantly associated with being male and a higher value of MLR (Natural Logaruthm, Ln) (all P < 0.05), and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed good performance of a regression model with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.787. Conclusion Patients with drug-free schizophrenia have an unbalanced distribution of peripheral blood granulocytes, and elevated NLR, MLR and PLR. Patients with higher value of MLR tend to have more psychotic symptoms, especially those symptoms of hostility, uncooperativeness, and suspiciousness. Our study gives a preliminary indication that MLR is a potential predictor of disease severity in patients with drug-free schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yinghan Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lewei Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Ling
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huanzhong Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Petrova B, Lacey TE, Culhane AJ, Cui J, Raskin A, Misra A, Lehtinen MK, Kanarek N. Metabolomics of Mouse Embryonic CSF Following Maternal Immune Activation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570507. [PMID: 38105934 PMCID: PMC10723469 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) serves various roles in the developing central nervous system (CNS), from neurogenesis to lifelong cognitive functions. Changes in CSF composition due to inflammation can impact brain function. We recently identified an abnormal cytokine signature in embryonic CSF (eCSF) following maternal immune activation (MIA), a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesized that MIA leads to other alterations in eCSF composition and employed untargeted metabolomics to profile changes in the eCSF metabolome in mice after inducing MIA with polyI:C. We report these data here as a resource, include a comprehensive MS1 and MS2 reference dataset, and present additional datasets comparing two mouse strains (CD-1 and C57Bl/6) and two developmental time points (E12.5 and E14.5). Targeted metabolomics further validated changes upon MIA. We show a significant elevation of glucocorticoids and kynurenine pathway related metabolites. Both pathways are relevant for suppressing inflammation or could be informative as disease biomarkers. Our resource should inform future mechanistic studies regarding the etiology of MIA neuropathology and roles and contributions of eCSF metabolites to brain development.
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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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Sheibani M, Shayan M, Khalilzadeh M, Soltani ZE, Jafari-Sabet M, Ghasemi M, Dehpour AR. Kynurenine pathway and its role in neurologic, psychiatric, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:10409-10425. [PMID: 37848760 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08859-7] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine pathway is of central importance for the immune function. It prevents hyperinflammation and induces long-term immune tolerance. Accumulating evidence also demonstrates cytoprotective and immunomodulatory properties of kynurenine pathway in conditions affecting either central or peripheral nervous system as well as other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although multilevel association exists between the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and various neurologic (e.g., neurodegenerative) disorders, it is believed that the kynurenine pathway plays a pivotal role in the development of both IBD and neurodegenerative disorders. In this setting, there is strong evidence linking the gut-brain axis with intestinal dysfunctions including IBD which is consistent with the fact that the risk of neurodegenerative diseases is higher in IBD patients. This review aims to highlight the role of kynurenine metabolic pathway in various neurologic and psychiatric diseases as well as relationship between IBD and neurodegenerative disorders in the light of the kynurenine metabolic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sheibani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Razi Drug Research Centre, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Shayan
- Experimental Medicine Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, MS, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Khalilzadeh
- Experimental Medicine Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, MS, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ebrahim Soltani
- Experimental Medicine Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, MS, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Jafari-Sabet
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Razi Drug Research Centre, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA, 01803, USA.
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Experimental Medicine Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, MS, Iran.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Hare SM, Adhikari BM, Mo C, Chen S, Wijtenburg SA, Seneviratne C, Kane-Gerard S, Sathyasaikumar KV, Notarangelo FM, Schwarcz R, Kelly DL, Rowland LM, Buchanan RW. Tryptophan challenge in individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls: acute effects on circulating kynurenine and kynurenic acid, cognition and cerebral blood flow. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1594-1601. [PMID: 37118058 PMCID: PMC10516920 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01587-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairments predict poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. These impairments may be causally related to increased levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a major metabolic product of tryptophan (TRYP). In the brain, KYNA acts as an antagonist of the of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptors, both of which are involved in cognitive processes. To examine whether KYNA plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, we compared the acute effects of a single oral dose of TRYP (6 g) in 32 healthy controls (HC) and 37 people with either schizophrenia (Sz), schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder, in a placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study. We examined plasma levels of KYNA and its precursor kynurenine; selected cognitive measures from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery; and resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) using arterial spin labeling imaging. In both cohorts, the TRYP challenge produced significant, time-dependent elevations in plasma kynurenine and KYNA. The resting CBF signal (averaged across all gray matter) was affected differentially, such that TRYP was associated with higher CBF in HC, but not in participants with a Sz-related disorder. While TRYP did not significantly impair cognitive test performance, there was a trend for TRYP to worsen visuospatial memory task performance in HC. Our results demonstrate that oral TRYP challenge substantially increases plasma levels of kynurenine and KYNA in both groups, but exerts differential group effects on CBF. Future studies are required to investigate the mechanisms underlying these CBF findings, and to evaluate the impact of KYNA fluctuations on brain function and behavior. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02067975).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Hare
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Bhim M Adhikari
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Chen Mo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shuo Chen
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - S Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Chamindi Seneviratne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Samuel Kane-Gerard
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Korrapati V Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Francesca M Notarangelo
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Deanna L Kelly
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert W Buchanan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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13
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Wright CJ, Milosavljevic S, Pocivavsek A. The stress of losing sleep: Sex-specific neurobiological outcomes. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 24:100543. [PMID: 37252645 PMCID: PMC10209346 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is a vital and evolutionarily conserved process, critical to daily functioning and homeostatic balance. Losing sleep is inherently stressful and leads to numerous detrimental physiological outcomes. Despite sleep disturbances affecting everyone, women and female rodents are often excluded or underrepresented in clinical and pre-clinical studies. Advancing our understanding of the role of biological sex in the responses to sleep loss stands to greatly improve our ability to understand and treat health consequences of insufficient sleep. As such, this review discusses sex differences in response to sleep deprivation, with a focus on the sympathetic nervous system stress response and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We review sex differences in several stress-related consequences of sleep loss, including inflammation, learning and memory deficits, and mood related changes. Focusing on women's health, we discuss the effects of sleep deprivation during the peripartum period. In closing, we present neurobiological mechanisms, including the contribution of sex hormones, orexins, circadian timing systems, and astrocytic neuromodulation, that may underlie potential sex differences in sleep deprivation responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Pocivavsek
- Corresponding author. Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
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14
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Murakami Y, Imamura Y, Kasahara Y, Yoshida C, Momono Y, Fang K, Sakai D, Konishi Y, Nishiyama T. Maternal Inflammation with Elevated Kynurenine Metabolites Is Related to the Risk of Abnormal Brain Development and Behavioral Changes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071087. [PMID: 37048160 PMCID: PMC10093447 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies show that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the onset and progression of neurodevelopmental disorders. Maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation is considered one of the major environmental factors driving this process. The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major route of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (Trp) catabolism in mammalian cells. Activation of the KP following neuro-inflammation can generate various endogenous neuroactive metabolites that may impact brain functions and behaviors. Additionally, neurotoxic metabolites and excitotoxicity cause long-term changes in the trophic support, glutamatergic system, and synaptic function following KP activation. Therefore, investigating the role of KP metabolites during neurodevelopment will likely promote further understanding of additional pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this review, we describe the changes in KP metabolism in the brain during pregnancy and represent how maternal inflammation and genetic factors influence the KP during development. We overview the patients with ASD clinical data and animal models designed to verify the role of perinatal KP elevation in long-lasting biochemical, neuropathological, and behavioral deficits later in life. Our review will help shed light on new therapeutic strategies and interventions targeting the KP for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Murakami
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Japan
| | - Yukio Imamura
- Department of Architecture and Architectual Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8530, Japan
- Department of Traumatology and Acute Critical Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Kasahara
- Department of Maternal and Fetal Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Chihiro Yoshida
- Department of Maternal and Fetal Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yuta Momono
- Department of Maternal and Fetal Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ke Fang
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sakai
- Department of Biology, Kanazawa Medical University, Kanazawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Yukuo Konishi
- Center for Baby Science, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe 619-0225, Japan
- Healthcare and Medical Data Multi-Level Integration Platform Group, RIKEN Medical Sciences Innovation Hub Program, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Toshimasa Nishiyama
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Japan
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15
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The Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway Involved in the Development of Immune-Related Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065742. [PMID: 36982811 PMCID: PMC10051340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The tryptophan and kynurenine pathway is well-known to play an important role in nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, as well as in the development of inflammatory diseases. It has been documented that some kynurenine metabolites are considered to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and/or neuroprotective properties. Importantly, many of these kynurenine metabolites may possess immune-regulatory properties that could alleviate the inflammation response. The abnormal activation of the tryptophan and kynurenine pathway might be involved in the pathophysiological process of various immune-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and/or polycystic ovary syndrome. Interestingly, kynurenine metabolites may be involved in the brain memory system and/or intricate immunity via the modulation of glial function. In the further deliberation of this concept with engram, the roles of gut microbiota could lead to the development of remarkable treatments for the prevention of and/or the therapeutics for various intractable immune-related diseases.
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16
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Bruno JP. Enhancing the resolution of behavioral measures: Key observations during a forty year career in behavioral neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105004. [PMID: 36549379 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105004] [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: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This manuscript reviews several key observations from the research program of Professor John P. Bruno that are believed to have significantly advanced our understanding of the brain's mediation of behavior. This review focuses on findings within several important research areas in behavioral neuroscience, including a) age-dependent neurobehavioral plasticity following brain damage; b) the role of the cortical cholinergic system in attentional processing and cognitive flexibility; and c) the design and validation of animal models of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. In selecting these observations, emphasis was given to examples in which the heuristic potency was increased by maximizing the resolution and microanalysis of behavioral assays in the same fashion as one typically refines neuronal manipulations. Professor Bruno served the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS) as an IBNS Fellow (1995-present) and President of the IBNS (2001-02).
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Bruno
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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17
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Pregestational Exposure to T. gondii Produces Maternal Antibodies That Recognize Fetal Brain Mimotopes and Induces Neurochemical and Behavioral Dysfunction in the Offspring. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233819. [PMID: 36497079 PMCID: PMC9741080 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of the maternal immune system by a prenatal infection is considered a risk factor for developing psychiatric disorders in the offspring. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the pathogenic infections associated with schizophrenia. Recent studies have shown an association between high levels of IgG anti-T. gondii from mothers and their neonates, with a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. The absence of the parasite and the levels of IgGs found in the early stages of life suggest a transplacental transfer of the anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, which could bind fetal brain structures by molecular mimicry and induce alterations in neurodevelopment. This study aimed to determine the maternal pathogenic antibodies formation that led to behavioral impairment on the progeny of rats immunized with T. gondii. Female rats were immunized prior to gestation with T. gondii lysate (3 times/once per week). The anti-T. gondii IgG levels were determined in the serum of pregestational exposed females' previous mating. After this, locomotor activity, cognitive and social tests were performed. Cortical neurotransmitter levels for dopamine and glutamate were evaluated at 60 PND in the progeny of rats immunized before gestation (Pregestational group). The maternal pathogenic antibodies were evidenced by their binding to fetal brain mimotopes in the Pregestational group and the reactivity of the serum containing anti-T. gondii IgG was tested in control fetal brains (non-immunized). These results showed that the Pregestational group presented impairment in short and long-term memory, hypoactivity and alteration in social behavior, which was also associated with a decrease in cortical glutamate and dopamine levels. We also found the IgG antibodies bound to brain mimotopes in fetuses from females immunized with T. gondii, as well as observing a strong reactivity of the serum females immunized for fetal brain structures of fetuses from unimmunized mothers. Our results suggest that the exposure to T. gondii before gestation produced maternal pathogenic antibodies that can recognize fetal brain mimotopes and lead to neurochemical and behavioral alterations in the offspring.
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18
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Deficiency of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase exacerbates impairment of prepulse inhibition induced by phencyclidine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 629:142-151. [PMID: 36116377 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.09.003] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Phencyclidine (PCP) causes mental symptoms that closely resemble schizophrenia through the inhibition of the glutamatergic system. The kynurenine (KYN) pathway (KP) generates metabolites that modulate glutamatergic systems such as kynurenic acid (KA), quinolinic acid (QA), and xanthurenic acid (XA). Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) metabolizes KYN to 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), an upstream metabolite of QA and XA. Clinical studies have reported lower KMO mRNA and higher KA levels in the postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia and exacerbation of symptoms in schizophrenia by PCP. However, the association between KMO deficiency and PCP remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that a non-effective dose of PCP induced impairment of prepulse inhibition (PPI) in KMO KO mice. KA levels were increased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) of KMO KO mice, but 3-HK levels were decreased. In wild-type C57BL/6 N mice, the PPI impairment induced by PCP is exacerbated by KA, while attenuated by 3-HK, QA and XA. Taken together, KMO KO mice were vulnerable to the PPI impairment induced by PCP through an increase in KA and a decrease in 3-HK, suggesting that an increase in the ratio of KA to 3-HK (QA and XA) may play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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19
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Huang J, Tong J, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Li Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Kochunov P, Chiappelli J, Tian B, Tian L, Hong LE, Tan Y. Elevated salivary kynurenic acid levels related to enlarged choroid plexus and severity of clinical phenotypes in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 106:32-39. [PMID: 35940451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) suffer severe, long-term psychotic symptoms and chronic stress. Salivary kynurenic acid (KYNA) and choroid plexus were evidenced to relate to psychological stress. We hypothesized that TRS patients would have higher salivary KYNA levels than patients who respond to antipsychotics (NTRS) and healthy controls (HC), and increased salivary KYNA levels are associated with clinical phenotypes and choroid plexus volume. A total of 66 HC participants, 53 patients with TRS and 46 with NTRS were enrolled. Salivary KYNA levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, choroid plexus volume by magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive functions with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. The TRS group had significantly higher salivary KYNA levels than the NTRS group (p = 0.003), who in turn had higher salivary KYNA than HC (p = 0.02). Higher salivary KYNA levels were associated with larger choroid plexus volume (r = 0.48, p = 0.004); lower attention/vigilance (r = -0.44, p = 0.004), verbal learning (r = -0.44, p = 0.004), total MCCB score (r = -0.42, p = 0.005); and a higher total PANSS score (r = 0.48, p = 0.004) in TRS patients. An enlarged choroid plexus also related to worse attention/vigilance (r = -0.39, p = 0.03), verbal learning (r = -0.55, p = 0.001), total MCCB score (r = -0.41, p = 0.02) and clinical symptoms (r = 0.48, p = 0.004) in TRS patients only. We conclude that elevated salivary KYNA levels and associated choroid plexus enlargement are clinically relevant indicators of TRS, with salivary KYNA being particularly valuable as a peripheral marker. Our findings should benefit TRS research and benefit the improvement of personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Huang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jinghui Tong
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yanfang Zhou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yanli Li
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuping Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Fude Yang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Joshua Chiappelli
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Baopeng Tian
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Li Tian
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
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20
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Arnsten AFT, Woo E, Yang S, Wang M, Datta D. Unusual Molecular Regulation of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Layer III Synapses Increases Vulnerability to Genetic and Environmental Insults in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:480-490. [PMID: 35305820 PMCID: PMC9372235 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is associated with reduced numbers of spines and dendrites from layer III of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the layer that houses the recurrent excitatory microcircuits that subserve working memory and abstract thought. Why are these synapses so vulnerable, while synapses in deeper or more superficial layers are little affected? This review describes the special molecular properties that govern layer III neurotransmission and neuromodulation in the primate dlPFC and how they may render these circuits particularly vulnerable to genetic and environmental insults. These properties include a reliance on NMDA receptor rather than AMPA receptor neurotransmission; cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) magnification of calcium signaling near the glutamatergic synapse of dendritic spines; and potassium channels opened by cAMP/PKA (protein kinase A) signaling that dynamically alter network strength, with built-in mechanisms to take dlPFC "offline" during stress. A variety of genetic and/or environmental insults can lead to the same phenotype of weakened layer III connectivity, in which mechanisms that normally strengthen connectivity are impaired and those that normally weaken connectivity are intensified. Inflammatory mechanisms, such as increased kynurenic acid and glutamate carboxypeptidase II expression, are especially detrimental to layer III dlPFC neurotransmission and modulation, mimicking genetic insults. The combination of genetic and inflammatory insults may cross the threshold into pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy F T Arnsten
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Elizabeth Woo
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Shengtao Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dibyadeep Datta
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut
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21
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Li D, Yu S, Long Y, Shi A, Deng J, Ma Y, Wen J, Li X, Liu S, Zhang Y, Wan J, Li N, Ao R. Tryptophan metabolism: Mechanism-oriented therapy for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Front Immunol 2022; 13:985378. [PMID: 36159806 PMCID: PMC9496178 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.985378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological and psychiatric disorders are a category of chronic diseases that are widespread and pose serious mental and physical health problems for patients. The substrates, products, and enzymes of Tryptophan metabolism all contribute to the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This paper deals with three metabolic pathways of tryptophan that produce a series of metabolites called tryptophan Catabolics (TRYCATs). These metabolites are involved in pathological processes such as excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage and are closely associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Here, we review the elements that affect how tryptophan metabolism is regulated, including inflammation and stress, exercise, vitamins, minerals, diet and gut microbes, glucocorticoids, and aging, as well as the downstream regulatory effects of tryptophan metabolism, including the regulation of glutamate (Glu), immunity, G-protein coupled receptor 35 (Gpr35), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and dopamine (DA). In order to advance the general understanding of tryptophan metabolism in neurological and psychiatric disorders, this paper also summarizes the current situation and effective drugs of tryptophan metabolism in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and considers its future research prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Long
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ai Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Songyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yulu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinyan Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Li, ; Rui Ao,
| | - Rui Ao
- Oncology Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Nan Li, ; Rui Ao,
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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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23
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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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24
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Ding W, Wu F, Zhou S, Li H, Wang R, Ning Y. Increased plasma level of kynurenic acid in drug-free patients with first-episode schizophrenia compared to patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy controls: preliminary data. Nord J Psychiatry 2022; 76:451-456. [PMID: 34928781 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2021.1992647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a metabolite of tryptophan (TRP). KYNA levels have been reported with controversial findings in patients with schizophrenia. AIM This study aimed to investigate the probable effects of medication and illness chronicity on peripheral KYNA levels in schizophrenia. METHODS We assessed peripheral (plasma) TRP metabolite levels in 38 drug-free patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES), 65 patients with chronic schizophrenia (CHS), and 70 healthy controls by using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The symptom severity of patients was evaluated by using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Finally, we analyzed the association of TRP metabolites with symptom severity. RESULTS We found significantly higher KYNA levels in FES patients than in both healthy controls (p < 0.01) and CHS patients (p < 0.05). No significant association was observed between plasma TRP metabolite levels and PANSS scores in either FES or CHS patients. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, elevated plasma KYNA levels may be a promising biomarker in FES patients. Medication and illness chronicity may affect peripheral KYNA levels with a currently unknown mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Ding
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fengchun Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sumiao Zhou
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hehua Li
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Runhua Wang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuping Ning
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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25
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Prefrontal Cortex Response to Prenatal Insult and Postnatal Opioid Exposure. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081371. [PMID: 36011282 PMCID: PMC9407090 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081371] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of proinflammatory challenges, such as maternal immune activation (MIA) or postnatal exposure to drugs of abuse, on brain molecular pathways has been reported. On the other hand, the simultaneous effects of MIA and drugs of abuse have been less studied and sometimes offered inconsistent results. The effects of morphine exposure on a pig model of viral-elicited MIA were characterized in the prefrontal cortex of males and females using RNA-sequencing and gene network analysis. Interacting and main effects of morphine, MIA, and sex were detected in approximately 2000 genes (false discovery rate-adjusted p-value < 0.05). Among the enriched molecular categories (false discovery rate-adjusted p-value < 0.05 and −1.5 > normalized enrichment score > 1.5) were the cell adhesion molecule pathways associated with inflammation and neuronal development and the long-term depression pathway associated with synaptic strength. Gene networks that integrate gene connectivity and expression profiles displayed the impact of morphine-by-MIA interaction effects on the pathways. The cell adhesion molecules and long-term depression networks presented an antagonistic effect between morphine and MIA. The differential expression between the double-challenged group and the baseline saline-treated Controls was less extreme than the individual challenges. The previous findings advance the knowledge about the effects of prenatal MIA and postnatal morphine exposure on the prefrontal cortex pathways.
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26
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Zhao J, Chen J, Wang C, Liu Y, Li M, Li Y, Li R, Han Z, Wang J, Chen L, Shu Y, Cheng G, Sun C. Kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) broadly inhibits viral infections via triggering NMDAR/Ca2+ influx and CaMKII/ IRF3-mediated IFN-β production. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010366. [PMID: 35235615 PMCID: PMC8920235 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism through the kynurenine pathway (KP) is well known to play a critical function in cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. However, its role in host-pathogen interactions has not been characterized yet. Herein, we identified that kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key rate-limiting enzyme in the KP, and quinolinic acid (QUIN), a key enzymatic product of KMO enzyme, exerted a novel antiviral function against a broad range of viruses. Mechanistically, QUIN induced the production of type I interferon (IFN-I) via activating the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and Ca2+ influx to activate Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Importantly, QUIN treatment effectively inhibited viral infections and alleviated disease progression in mice. Furthermore, kmo-/- mice were vulnerable to pathogenic viral challenge with severe clinical symptoms. Collectively, our results demonstrated that KMO and its enzymatic product QUIN were potential therapeutics against emerging pathogenic viruses. The outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases have become a severe challenge worldwide, and therefore it is a public health priority to explore novel broad-spectrum antiviral agents with various mechanisms. This study reported that kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key rate-limiting enzyme during tryptophan metabolism, showed promise as a novel broad-spectrum antiviral factor against emerging pathogenic viruses. We further found that quinolinic acid (QUIN), an enzymatic product of KMO, could also act as a novel broad-spectrum antiviral agent. We then systematically studied the underlying mechanisms and broadly antiviral function of KMO and QUIN in vitro and in vivo. Our data highlight the importance of exploring novel antiviral targets from the key enzymes and their metabolites in tryptophan metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhao
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaoshan Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yajie Liu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minchao Li
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Li
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiting Li
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zirong Han
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junjian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuelong Shu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Genhong Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GC); (CS)
| | - Caijun Sun
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen university), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail: (GC); (CS)
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27
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Sathyasaikumar KV, Pérez de la Cruz V, Pineda B, Vázquez Cervantes GI, Ramírez Ortega D, Donley DW, Severson PL, West BL, Giorgini F, Fox JH, Schwarcz R. Cellular Localization of Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase in the Brain: Challenging the Dogma. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020315. [PMID: 35204197 PMCID: PMC8868204 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key player in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, regulates the synthesis of the neuroactive metabolites 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and kynurenic acid (KYNA). KMO activity has been implicated in several major brain diseases including Huntington’s disease (HD) and schizophrenia. In the brain, KMO is widely believed to be predominantly localized in microglial cells, but verification in vivo has not been provided so far. Here, we examined KP metabolism in the brain after depleting microglial cells pharmacologically with the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622. Young adult mice were fed PLX5622 for 21 days and were euthanized either on the next day or after receiving normal chow for an additional 21 days. Expression of microglial marker genes was dramatically reduced on day 22 but had fully recovered by day 43. In both groups, PLX5622 treatment failed to affect Kmo expression, KMO activity or tissue levels of 3-HK and KYNA in the brain. In a parallel experiment, PLX5622 treatment also did not reduce KMO activity, 3-HK and KYNA in the brain of R6/2 mice (a model of HD with activated microglia). Finally, using freshly isolated mouse cells ex vivo, we found KMO only in microglia and neurons but not in astrocytes. Taken together, these data unexpectedly revealed that neurons contain a large proportion of functional KMO in the adult mouse brain under both physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korrapati V. Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA;
| | - Verónica Pérez de la Cruz
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - Benjamín Pineda
- Neuroimmunology Department, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico;
| | - Gustavo Ignacio Vázquez Cervantes
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - Daniela Ramírez Ortega
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - David W. Donley
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; (D.W.D.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Paul L. Severson
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (P.L.S.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Brian L. West
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (P.L.S.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7JA, UK;
| | - Jonathan H. Fox
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; (D.W.D.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-410-402-7635
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28
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Beggiato S, Ieraci A, Zuccarini M, Di Iorio P, Schwarcz R, Ferraro L. Alterations in rat prefrontal cortex kynurenic acid levels are involved in the enduring cognitive dysfunctions induced by tetrahydrocannabinol exposure during the adolescence. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:996406. [PMID: 36483135 PMCID: PMC9722723 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.996406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cannabis abuse during adolescence is a risk factor for cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders later in life. To date, the possible causal relationship between cannabinoids, kynurenic acid (KYNA; i.e., a neuroactive metabolite of tryptophan degradation) and cognition has not been investigated in adolescence. Early exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; i.e., the main psychotropic component of cannabis) causes enduring cognitive deficits, which critically involve impaired glutamatergic function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In addition, prenatal cannabis exposure results in enduring increases in PFC KYNA levels. Based on these findings, the effects of chronic THC exposure in rats, during another critical period of neurodevelopment particularly sensitive to perturbation by exogenous stimuli, such as adolescence, have been investigated. METHODS Male Wistar rats were chronically treated with vehicle or ascending intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of THC starting on postnatal day (PND) 35 until PND 45. In adulthood (PND 75), cognitive assessment (Y-maze) and extracellular KYNA/glutamate levels were measured in the PFC by in vivo microdialysis, before and after a challenge with KYN (5 mg/kg i.p., the biological precursor of KYNA). By using the selective, brain-penetrable KAT II inhibitor PF-04859989, we then examined whether blockade of KYNA neosynthesis prevents the cognitive impairment. RESULTS Compared to vehicle-treated controls, extracellular basal KYNA levels were higher in the PFC of adult rats chronically exposed to THC in adolescence (p < 0.01). No changes were observed in extracellular glutamate levels. Following a challenge with KYN, extracellular KYNA levels similarly increased in both groups (i.e., vehicle- and THC-treated; p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Chronic adolescent THC exposure negatively affected short-term memory (reduced spontaneous alternation), in adult animals (p < 0.001), while PF-04859989 (30 mg/kg i.p.) restored the cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION We propose that the observed alterations in PFC KYNA signaling might be involved in the cognitive dysfunction induced by the exposure to THC during the adolescence. In the translational realm, these experiments raise the prospect of prevention of KYNA neosynthesis as a possible novel approach to counteract some of the detrimental long-term effects of adolescence cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ieraci
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Zuccarini
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Di Iorio
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for the Technology of Advanced Therapies (LTTA Centre), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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29
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Blokland GAM, Grove J, Chen CY, Cotsapas C, Tobet S, Handa R, St Clair D, Lencz T, Mowry BJ, Periyasamy S, Cairns MJ, Tooney PA, Wu JQ, Kelly B, Kirov G, Sullivan PF, Corvin A, Riley BP, Esko T, Milani L, Jönsson EG, Palotie A, Ehrenreich H, Begemann M, Steixner-Kumar A, Sham PC, Iwata N, Weinberger DR, Gejman PV, Sanders AR, Buxbaum JD, Rujescu D, Giegling I, Konte B, Hartmann AM, Bramon E, Murray RM, Pato MT, Lee J, Melle I, Molden E, Ophoff RA, McQuillin A, Bass NJ, Adolfsson R, Malhotra AK, Martin NG, Fullerton JM, Mitchell PB, Schofield PR, Forstner AJ, Degenhardt F, Schaupp S, Comes AL, Kogevinas M, Guzman-Parra J, Reif A, Streit F, Sirignano L, Cichon S, Grigoroiu-Serbanescu M, Hauser J, Lissowska J, Mayoral F, Müller-Myhsok B, Świątkowska B, Schulze TG, Nöthen MM, Rietschel M, Kelsoe J, Leboyer M, Jamain S, Etain B, Bellivier F, Vincent JB, Alda M, O'Donovan C, Cervantes P, Biernacka JM, Frye M, McElroy SL, Scott LJ, Stahl EA, Landén M, Hamshere ML, Smeland OB, Djurovic S, Vaaler AE, Andreassen OA, Baune BT, Air T, Preisig M, Uher R, Levinson DF, Weissman MM, Potash JB, Shi J, Knowles JA, Perlis RH, Lucae S, Boomsma DI, Penninx BWJH, Hottenga JJ, de Geus EJC, Willemsen G, Milaneschi Y, Tiemeier H, Grabe HJ, Teumer A, Van der Auwera S, Völker U, Hamilton SP, Magnusson PKE, Viktorin A, Mehta D, Mullins N, Adams MJ, Breen G, McIntosh AM, Lewis CM, Hougaard DM, Nordentoft M, Mors O, Mortensen PB, Werge T, Als TD, Børglum AD, Petryshen TL, Smoller JW, Goldstein JM. Sex-Dependent Shared and Nonshared Genetic Architecture Across Mood and Psychotic Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:102-117. [PMID: 34099189 PMCID: PMC8458480 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in incidence and/or presentation of schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP) are pervasive. Previous evidence for shared genetic risk and sex differences in brain abnormalities across disorders suggest possible shared sex-dependent genetic risk. METHODS We conducted the largest to date genome-wide genotype-by-sex (G×S) interaction of risk for these disorders using 85,735 cases (33,403 SCZ, 19,924 BIP, and 32,408 MDD) and 109,946 controls from the PGC (Psychiatric Genomics Consortium) and iPSYCH. RESULTS Across disorders, genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphism-by-sex interaction was detected for a locus encompassing NKAIN2 (rs117780815, p = 3.2 × 10-8), which interacts with sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) enzymes, implicating neuronal excitability. Three additional loci showed evidence (p < 1 × 10-6) for cross-disorder G×S interaction (rs7302529, p = 1.6 × 10-7; rs73033497, p = 8.8 × 10-7; rs7914279, p = 6.4 × 10-7), implicating various functions. Gene-based analyses identified G×S interaction across disorders (p = 8.97 × 10-7) with transcriptional inhibitor SLTM. Most significant in SCZ was a MOCOS gene locus (rs11665282, p = 1.5 × 10-7), implicating vascular endothelial cells. Secondary analysis of the PGC-SCZ dataset detected an interaction (rs13265509, p = 1.1 × 10-7) in a locus containing IDO2, a kynurenine pathway enzyme with immunoregulatory functions implicated in SCZ, BIP, and MDD. Pathway enrichment analysis detected significant G×S interaction of genes regulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling in MDD (false discovery rate-corrected p < .05). CONCLUSIONS In the largest genome-wide G×S analysis of mood and psychotic disorders to date, there was substantial genetic overlap between the sexes. However, significant sex-dependent effects were enriched for genes related to neuronal development and immune and vascular functions across and within SCZ, BIP, and MDD at the variant, gene, and pathway levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriëlla A M Blokland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| | - Jakob Grove
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Genome Analysis and Personalized Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark; Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Chia-Yen Chen
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Biogen Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Chris Cotsapas
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Departments of Neurology and Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Stuart Tobet
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine (ICON), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Robert Handa
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine (ICON), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - David St Clair
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Todd Lencz
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York; The Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York; The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York
| | - Bryan J Mowry
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sathish Periyasamy
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park - Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Priority Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul A Tooney
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Priority Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jing Qin Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian Kelly
- Priority Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - George Kirov
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick F Sullivan
- Departments of Genetics and Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brien P Riley
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Departments of Psychiatry and Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Tõnu Esko
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lili Milani
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Erik G Jönsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aarno Palotie
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Begemann
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Agnes Steixner-Kumar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China; State Key Laboratory for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China; Centre for Genomic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Daniel R Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, Maryland; Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pablo V Gejman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, North Shore University Health System, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Alan R Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, North Shore University Health System, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Departments of Human Genetics and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Halle, Halle, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ina Giegling
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Halle, Halle, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Konte
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Halle, Halle, Germany
| | | | - Elvira Bramon
- Mental Health Neuroscience Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin M Murray
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michele T Pato
- Institute for Genomic Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York; Department of Psychiatry and Zilkha Neurogenetics Institute, Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jimmy Lee
- Research Division and Department of General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Singapore; Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Ingrid Melle
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Molden
- Center for Psychopharmacology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Roel A Ophoff
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California; David Geffen School of Medicine, and Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Andrew McQuillin
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Bass
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rolf Adolfsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry, Umeå University Medical Faculty, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anil K Malhotra
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York; The Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York; The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Janice M Fullerton
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip B Mitchell
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter R Schofield
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andreas J Forstner
- Centre for Human Genetics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Degenhardt
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schaupp
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ashley L Comes
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | | | - José Guzman-Parra
- Mental Health Department, University Regional Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Sirignano
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sven Cichon
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Grigoroiu-Serbanescu
- Biometric Psychiatric Genetics Research Unit, Alexandru Obregia Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Joanna Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jolanta Lissowska
- Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, M. Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Fermin Mayoral
- Mental Health Department, University Regional Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Bertram Müller-Myhsok
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Beata Świątkowska
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Thomas G Schulze
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - John Kelsoe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, Créteil, France; Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Jamain
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, Créteil, France; INSERM U955, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Créteil, France
| | - Bruno Etain
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; UMR-S1144 Team 1 Biomarkers of relapse and therapeutic response in addiction and mood disorders, INSERM, Paris, France; Psychiatry, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Frank Bellivier
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; UMR-S1144 Team 1 Biomarkers of relapse and therapeutic response in addiction and mood disorders, INSERM, Paris, France; Psychiatry, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France; Paris Bipolar and TRD Expert Centres, FondaMental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - John B Vincent
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin Alda
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Claire O'Donovan
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Pablo Cervantes
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood Disorders Program, McGill University Health Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Joanna M Biernacka
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mark Frye
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Laura J Scott
- Center for Statistical Genetics and Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Eli A Stahl
- Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Mikael Landén
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marian L Hamshere
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Olav B Smeland
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT Centre, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Arne E Vaaler
- Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, St Olavs' University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tracy Air
- Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austrlalia, Australia
| | - Martin Preisig
- Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rudolf Uher
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Douglas F Levinson
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Myrna M Weissman
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York; Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - James B Potash
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Jianxin Shi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James A Knowles
- Psychiatry & The Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Susanne Lucae
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology/Netherlands Twin Register, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Brenda W J H Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center and GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jouke-Jan Hottenga
- Department of Biological Psychology/Netherlands Twin Register, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eco J C de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology/Netherlands Twin Register, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gonneke Willemsen
- Department of Biological Psychology/Netherlands Twin Register, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yuri Milaneschi
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center and GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute of Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Patrik K E Magnusson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexander Viktorin
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Divya Mehta
- School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Niamh Mullins
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J Adams
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gerome Breen
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M McIntosh
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Cathryn M Lewis
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David M Hougaard
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Nordentoft
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Copenhagen Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services Capital Region of Denmark Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Mors
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
| | - Preben B Mortensen
- Centre for Integrative Sequencing (iSEQ), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; National Centre for Register-Based Research (NCCR), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research (CIRRAU), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Werge
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Center Sct. Hans, Mental Health Services Copenhagen, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas D Als
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Genome Analysis and Personalized Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders D Børglum
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Genome Analysis and Personalized Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tracey L Petryshen
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine (ICON), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry and Vincent Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; MGH-MIT-HMS Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts; Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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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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Cross-species evidence that nicotine widens the attentional window. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3559-3568. [PMID: 34618202 PMCID: PMC8629923 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05972-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The ability to spread attention over items or locations is as important for everyday functioning as the ability to focus narrowly. Little is known about neuronal processes involved in broad monitoring, but indirect evidence suggests a role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). OBJECTIVE The present study tested whether the prototypical nAChR agonist nicotine enhances the ability of humans and rodents to maintain a broad attentional window. METHODS Fifty-three never-smokers wearing a nicotine (7 mg/24 h) or placebo patch performed an attention task requiring detection of stimuli presented randomly in one of four peripheral locations, with a central cue predicting the target location or indicating the need to spread attention over all locations. Nineteen rats performed the 5-choice serial reaction time task requiring detection of stimuli presented randomly in a horizontal array of five locations. Performance after nicotine (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) or vehicle administration was analyzed as a function of target location eccentricity. RESULTS In human subjects, nicotine caused greater reaction time reduction when all locations were monitored than when a single location was cued. In rats, nicotine attenuated the decline in stimulus detections and the increase in omission errors with greater target location eccentricity. CONCLUSIONS The findings represent cross-species evidence that nAChR agonism facilitates the ability to spread attention broadly. This suggests that nAChR hypofunction may be central to broad monitoring deficits as seen, for example, in schizophrenia. The homology of findings between the rodent and the human paradigm contributes to validating a translational strategy for treatment development.
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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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Büki A, Kekesi G, Horvath G, Vécsei L. A Potential Interface between the Kynurenine Pathway and Autonomic Imbalance in Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10016. [PMID: 34576179 PMCID: PMC8467675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810016] [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: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms including autonomic imbalance. These disturbances involve almost all autonomic functions and might contribute to poor medication compliance, worsened quality of life and increased mortality. Therefore, it has a great importance to find a potential therapeutic solution to improve the autonomic disturbances. The altered level of kynurenines (e.g., kynurenic acid), as tryptophan metabolites, is almost the most consistently found biochemical abnormality in schizophrenia. Kynurenic acid influences different types of receptors, most of them involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Only few data suggest that kynurenines might have effects on multiple autonomic functions. Publications so far have discussed the implication of kynurenines and the alteration of the autonomic nervous system in schizophrenia independently from each other. Thus, the coupling between them has not yet been addressed in schizophrenia, although their direct common points, potential interfaces indicate the consideration of their interaction. The present review gathers autonomic disturbances, the impaired kynurenine pathway in schizophrenia, and the effects of kynurenine pathway on autonomic functions. In the last part of the review, the potential interaction between the two systems in schizophrenia, and the possible therapeutic options are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Büki
- Department of Physiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (A.B.); (G.K.); (G.H.)
| | - Gabriella Kekesi
- Department of Physiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (A.B.); (G.K.); (G.H.)
| | - Gyongyi Horvath
- Department of Physiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (A.B.); (G.K.); (G.H.)
| | - László Vécsei
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6., H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Excellence Center, Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6., H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
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34
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Cognitive Deficit in Schizophrenia: From Etiology to Novel Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189905. [PMID: 34576069 PMCID: PMC8468549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a major mental illness characterized by positive and negative symptoms, and by cognitive deficit. Although cognitive impairment is disabling for patients, it has been largely neglected in the treatment of schizophrenia. There are several reasons for this lack of treatments for cognitive deficit, but the complexity of its etiology-in which neuroanatomic, biochemical and genetic factors concur-has contributed to the lack of effective treatments. In the last few years, there have been several attempts to develop novel drugs for the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Despite these efforts, little progress has been made. The latest findings point to the importance of developing personalized treatments for schizophrenia which enhance neuroplasticity, and of combining pharmacological treatments with non-pharmacological measures.
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35
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Afia AB, Vila È, MacDowell KS, Ormazabal A, Leza JC, Haro JM, Artuch R, Ramos B, Garcia-Bueno B. Kynurenine pathway in post-mortem prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in schizophrenia: relationship with monoamines and symptomatology. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:198. [PMID: 34511126 PMCID: PMC8436477 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02260-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cortico-cerebellar-thalamic-cortical circuit has been implicated in the emergence of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia (SZ). The kynurenine pathway (KP) has been linked to alterations in glutamatergic and monoaminergic neurotransmission and to SZ symptomatology through the production of the metabolites quinolinic acid (QA) and kynurenic acid (KYNA). METHODS This work describes alterations in KP in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cerebellum (CB) of 15 chronic SZ patients and 14 control subjects in PFC and 13 control subjects in CB using immunoblot for protein levels and ELISA for interleukins and QA and KYNA determinations. Monoamine metabolites were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography and SZ symptomatology was assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The association of KP with inflammatory mediators, monoamine metabolism and SZ symptomatology was explored. RESULTS In the PFC, the presence of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 together with IDO2 and KATII enzymes decreased in SZ, while TDO and KMO enzyme expression increased. A network interaction analysis showed that in the PFC IL-10 was coupled to the QA branch of the kynurenine pathway (TDO-KMO-QA), whereas IL-10 associated with KMO in CB. KYNA in the CB inversely correlated with negative and general PANSS psychopathology. Although there were no changes in monoamine metabolite content in the PFC in SZ, a network interaction analysis showed associations between dopamine and methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol degradation metabolite. Direct correlations were found between general PANSS psychopathology and the serotonin degradation metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Interestingly, KYNA in the CB inversely correlated with 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the PFC. CONCLUSIONS Thus, this work found alterations in KP in two brain areas belonging to the cortico-cerebellar-thalamic-cortical circuit associated with SZ symptomatology, with a possible impact across areas in 5-HT degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Ben Afia
- Laboratory of Genetics, Biodiversity and Bioresource Valorization, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Èlia Vila
- Psiquiatria Molecular, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karina S MacDowell
- Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida Ormazabal
- Clinical Chemistry Department, Institut de recerca Sant Joan de Déu and CIBERER-ISCIII, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2. 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan C Leza
- Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep M Haro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Artuch
- Clinical Chemistry Department, Institut de recerca Sant Joan de Déu and CIBERER-ISCIII, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2. 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Ramos
- Psiquiatria Molecular, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Dept. de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Borja Garcia-Bueno
- Departamento de Farmacología y Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health), Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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36
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Imbeault S, Gubert Olivé M, Jungholm O, Erhardt S, Wigström H, Engberg G, Jardemark K. Blockade of KAT II Facilitates LTP in Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Depleted Mice. Int J Tryptophan Res 2021; 14:11786469211041368. [PMID: 34483669 PMCID: PMC8411644 DOI: 10.1177/11786469211041368] [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: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Excess of brain kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroactive metabolite of the kynurenine
pathway, is known to elicit cognitive dysfunction. In the present study, we
investigated spatial working memory in mice with elevated levels of KYNA,
induced by targeted deletion of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), as well as
long-term potentiation (LTP) of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials
(fEPSPs) in hippocampal brain slices from these mice. The KMO knock-out
(KMO−/−) mice performed more poorly in the spatial working memory
task as compared to their wild-type (WT) counterparts, as reflected by fewer
correct choices in a T-maze. Both fEPSPs, or LTP, did not significantly differ
between the 2 mouse strains. However, administration of PF-04859989, a
kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) II inhibitor, limiting the production of KYNA,
facilitated fEPSP and enhanced LTP to a greater extent in hippocampal slices
from KMO−/− mice compared to WT mice. The results of the present
study point to an essential role for KYNA in modulating LTP in the hippocampus
of KMO−/− mice which may account for their dysfunctional spatial
working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Imbeault
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Max Gubert Olivé
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oscar Jungholm
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Erhardt
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Holger Wigström
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Göran Engberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kent Jardemark
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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37
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Notarangelo FM, Schwarcz R. A single prenatal lipopolysaccharide injection has acute, but not long-lasting, effects on cerebral kynurenine pathway metabolism in mice. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:5968-5981. [PMID: 34363411 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15416] [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: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In rodents, a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during gestation causes chemical and functional abnormalities in the offspring. These effects may involve changes in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation and may provide insights into the pathophysiology of psychiatric diseases. Using CD1 mice, we examined acute and long-term effects of prenatal LPS treatment on the levels of kynurenine and its neuroactive downstream products kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid. To this end, LPS (100 μg/kg, i.p.) was administered on gestational day 15, and KP metabolites were measured 4 and 24 h later or in adulthood. After 4 h, kynurenine, KYNA and 3-HK levels were elevated in the fetal brain, 3-HK and KYNA levels were increased in the maternal plasma, and kynurenine was increased in the maternal brain, whereas no changes were seen in the placenta. These effects were less prominent after 24 h, and prenatal LPS did not affect the basal levels of KP metabolites in the forebrain of adult animals. In addition, a second LPS injection (1 mg/kg) in adulthood in the offspring of prenatally saline- and LPS-treated mice caused a similar elevation in 3-HK levels in both groups after 24 h, but the effect was significantly more pronounced in male mice. Thus, acute immune activation during pregnancy has only short-lasting effects on KP metabolism and does not cause cerebral KP metabolites to be disproportionally affected by a second immune challenge in adulthood. However, prenatal KYNA elevations still contribute to functional abnormalities in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca M Notarangelo
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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38
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Mithaiwala MN, Santana-Coelho D, Porter GA, O’Connor JC. Neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine Pathway in CNS Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Cells 2021; 10:1548. [PMID: 34205235 PMCID: PMC8235708 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) remain a significant health, social and economic problem around the globe. The development of therapeutic strategies for CNS conditions has suffered due to a poor understanding of the underlying pathologies that manifest them. Understanding common etiological origins at the cellular and molecular level is essential to enhance the development of efficacious and targeted treatment options. Over the years, neuroinflammation has been posited as a common link between multiple neurological, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Processes that precipitate neuroinflammatory conditions including genetics, infections, physical injury and psychosocial factors, like stress and trauma, closely link dysregulation in kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan metabolism as a possible pathophysiological factor that 'fuel the fire' in CNS diseases. In this study, we aim to review emerging evidence that provide mechanistic insights between different CNS disorders, neuroinflammation and the KP. We provide a thorough overview of the different branches of the KP pertinent to CNS disease pathology that have therapeutic implications for the development of selected and efficacious treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa N. Mithaiwala
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.N.M.); (D.S.-C.); (G.A.P.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Mail Code 8864, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Danielle Santana-Coelho
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.N.M.); (D.S.-C.); (G.A.P.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Mail Code 8864, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Grace A. Porter
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.N.M.); (D.S.-C.); (G.A.P.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Mail Code 8864, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Jason C. O’Connor
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (M.N.M.); (D.S.-C.); (G.A.P.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Mail Code 8864, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Department of Research, Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, South Texas Veterans Heath System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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Rudzki L, Stone TW, Maes M, Misiak B, Samochowiec J, Szulc A. Gut microbiota-derived vitamins - underrated powers of a multipotent ally in psychiatric health and disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 107:110240. [PMID: 33428888 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite the well-established roles of B-vitamins and their deficiencies in health and disease, there is growing evidence indicating a key role of those nutrients in functions of the central nervous system and in psychopathology. Clinical data indicate the substantial role of B-vitamins in various psychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and dementia, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. As enzymatic cofactors, B-vitamins are involved in many physiological processes such as the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids, metabolism of tryptophan in the kynurenine pathway, homocysteine metabolism, synthesis and metabolism of various neurotransmitters and neurohormones including serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, D-serine, glycine, histamine and melatonin. Those vitamins are highly involved in brain energetic metabolism and respiration at the cellular level. They have a broad range of anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Furthermore, some of those vitamins are involved in the regulation of permeability of the intestinal and blood-brain barriers. Despite the fact that a substantial amount of the above vitamins is acquired from various dietary sources, deficiencies are not uncommon, and it is estimated that micronutrient deficiencies affect about two billion people worldwide. The majority of gut-resident microbes and the broad range of bacteria available in fermented food, express genetic machinery enabling the synthesis and metabolism of B-vitamins and, consequently, intestinal microbiota and fermented food rich in probiotic bacteria are essential sources of B-vitamins for humans. All in all, there is growing evidence that intestinal bacteria-derived vitamins play a significant role in physiology and that dysregulation of the "microbiota-vitamins frontier" is related to various disorders. In this review, we will discuss the role of vitamins in mental health and explore the perspectives and potential of how gut microbiota-derived vitamins could contribute to mental health and psychiatric treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leszek Rudzki
- The Charleston Centre, 49 Neilston Road, Paisley PA2 6LY, UK.
| | | | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria; IMPACT Strategic Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteura 10 Street, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26 Street, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Agata Szulc
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
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40
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Beggiato S, Zuccarini M, Cassano T, Borroto-Escuela DO, Di Iorio P, Schwarcz R, Fuxe K, Ferraro L. Adenosine and Kynurenic Acid Interactions: Possible Relevance for Schizophrenia Treatment? Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:654426. [PMID: 33935767 PMCID: PMC8080066 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.654426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Zuccarini
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Tommaso Cassano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Patrizia Di Iorio
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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41
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Manosso LM, Lin J, Carlessi AS, Recco KCC, Quevedo J, Gonçalves CL, Réus GZ. Sex-related patterns of the gut-microbiota-brain axis in the neuropsychiatric conditions. Brain Res Bull 2021; 171:196-208. [PMID: 33838211 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences are often observed in psychiatric patients, especially major depressive disorders (MDD), schizophrenia, and developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The prevalence rates between males and females seem variate according to the clinical condition. Although the findings are still incipient, it is suggested that these differences can involve neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and physiological sex differences. In this context, the microbiota-gut-brain axis hypothesis arises to explain some aspects of the complex pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. The microbiota composition is host-specific and can change conforming to age, sex, diet, medication, exercise, and others. The communication between the brain and the gut is bidirectional and may impact the entire system homeostasis. Many pathways appear to be involved, including neuroanatomic communication, neuroendocrine pathways, immune system, bacteria-derived metabolites, hormones, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic factors. Although the clinical and preclinical studies are sparse and not very consistent, they suggest that sex differences in the gut microbiota may play an essential role in some neuropsychiatric conditions. Thus, this narrative review has as a mainly aim to show the points sex-related patterns associated to the gut-microbiota-brain axis in the MDD, ASDs, and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana M Manosso
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Jaime Lin
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Anelise S Carlessi
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Kelen C C Recco
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - João Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil; Translational Psychiatry Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA; Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cinara L Gonçalves
- Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Z Réus
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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42
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Rentschler KM, Baratta AM, Ditty AL, Wagner NTJ, Wright CJ, Milosavljevic S, Mong JA, Pocivavsek A. Prenatal Kynurenine Elevation Elicits Sex-Dependent Changes in Sleep and Arousal During Adulthood: Implications for Psychotic Disorders. Schizophr Bull 2021; 47:1320-1330. [PMID: 33823027 PMCID: PMC8379538 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan catabolism has been implicated in psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a KP metabolite synthesized by kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) from its biological precursor kynurenine and acts as an endogenous antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Elevated KYNA levels found in postmortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid of patients are hypothesized to play a key role in the etiology of cognitive symptoms observed in psychotic disorders. Sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation, and sleep disturbances are common among patients. Yet, little is known about the effect of altered KP metabolism on sleep-wake behavior. We presently utilized a well-established experimental paradigm of embryonic kynurenine (EKyn) exposure wherein pregnant dams are fed a diet laced with kynurenine the last week of gestation and hypothesized disrupted sleep-wake behavior in adult offspring. We examined sleep behavior in adult male and female offspring using electroencephalogram and electromyogram telemetry and determined sex differences in sleep and arousal in EKyn offspring. EKyn males displayed reduced rapid eye movement sleep, while female EKyn offspring were hyperaroused compared to controls. We determined that EKyn males maintain elevated brain KYNA levels, while KYNA levels were unchanged in EKyn females, yet the activity levels of KAT I and KAT II were reduced. Our findings indicate that elevated prenatal kynurenine exposure elicits sex-specific changes in sleep-wake behavior, arousal, and KP metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Rentschler
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Audrey L Ditty
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Nathan T J Wagner
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Courtney J Wright
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Snezana Milosavljevic
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Jessica A Mong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana Pocivavsek
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: (803) 216–3509, fax: 803-216-3538, e-mail:
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Huang J, Tong J, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Cui Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Kochunov P, Chiappelli J, Tian B, Tian L, Tan Y, Hong LE. Effects of neuroactive metabolites of the tryptophan pathway on working memory and cortical thickness in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:198. [PMID: 33795641 PMCID: PMC8016899 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of tryptophan metabolites known to be neuroactive have been examined for their potential associations with cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Among these metabolites, kynurenic acid (KYNA), 5-hydroxyindole (5-HI), and quinolinic acid (QUIN) are documented in their diverse effects on α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and/or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), two of the receptor types thought to contribute to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. In this study, serum levels of KYNA, 5-HI, and QUIN were measured in 195 patients with schizophrenia and in 70 healthy controls using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; cognitive performance in MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and cortical thickness measured by magnetic resonance imaging were obtained. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower serum KYNA (p < 0.001) and QUIN (p = 0.02) levels, and increased 5-HI/KYNA (p < 0.001) and QUIN/KYNA ratios (p < 0.001) compared with healthy controls. Multiple linear regression showed that working memory was positively correlated with serum 5-HI levels (t = 2.10, p = 0.04), but inversely correlated with KYNA concentrations (t = -2.01, p = 0.05) in patients. Patients with high 5-HI and low KYNA had better working memory than other subgroups (p = 0.01). Higher 5-HI levels were associated with thicker left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (t = 3.71, p = 2.94 × 10-4) in patients. The different effects of 5-HI and KYNA on working memory may appear consistent with their opposite receptor level mechanisms. Our findings appear to provide a new insight into the dynamic roles of tryptophan pathway metabolites on cognition, which may benefit novel therapeutic development that targets cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Huang
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghui Tong
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Zhou
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yimin Cui
- grid.411472.50000 0004 1764 1621Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuping Tan
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fude Yang
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peter Kochunov
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Joshua Chiappelli
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Baopeng Tian
- grid.414351.60000 0004 0530 7044Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tian
- grid.10939.320000 0001 0943 7661Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - L. Elliot Hong
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
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Wadhawan A, Reynolds MA, Makkar H, Scott AJ, Potocki E, Hoisington AJ, Brenner LA, Dagdag A, Lowry CA, Dwivedi Y, Postolache TT. Periodontal Pathogens and Neuropsychiatric Health. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1353-1397. [PMID: 31924157 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200110161105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence incriminates low-grade inflammation in cardiovascular, metabolic diseases, and neuropsychiatric clinical conditions, all important causes of morbidity and mortality. One of the upstream and modifiable precipitants and perpetrators of inflammation is chronic periodontitis, a polymicrobial infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) playing a central role in the disease pathogenesis. We review the association between P. gingivalis and cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuropsychiatric illness, and the molecular mechanisms potentially implicated in immune upregulation as well as downregulation induced by the pathogen. In addition to inflammation, translocation of the pathogens to the coronary and peripheral arteries, including brain vasculature, and gut and liver vasculature has important pathophysiological consequences. Distant effects via translocation rely on virulence factors of P. gingivalis such as gingipains, on its synergistic interactions with other pathogens, and on its capability to manipulate the immune system via several mechanisms, including its capacity to induce production of immune-downregulating micro-RNAs. Possible targets for intervention and drug development to manage distal consequences of infection with P. gingivalis are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Wadhawan
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, D.C. 20032, United States
| | - Mark A Reynolds
- Department of Advanced Oral Sciences & Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore 21201, United States
| | - Hina Makkar
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Alison J Scott
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, United States
| | - Eileen Potocki
- VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, United States
| | - Andrew J Hoisington
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States
| | - Lisa A Brenner
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Aurora, United States.,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, United States
| | - Aline Dagdag
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Aurora, United States.,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, United States.,Department of Integrative Physiology, Center for Neuroscience and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, United States.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC), Aurora, United States
| | - Yogesh Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Teodor T Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States.,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Aurora, United States.,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, United States.,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, VA Capitol Health Care Network, Baltimore, United States
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45
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Corsi-Zuelli F, Deakin B. Impaired regulatory T cell control of astroglial overdrive and microglial pruning in schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:637-653. [PMID: 33713699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is widely held that schizophrenia involves an active process of peripheral inflammation that induces or reflects brain inflammation with activation of microglia, the brain's resident immune cells. However, recent in vivo radioligand binding studies and large-scale transcriptomics in post-mortem brain report reduced markers of microglial inflammation. The findings suggest a contrary hypothesis; that microglia are diverted into their non-inflammatory synaptic remodelling phenotype that interferes with neurodevelopment and perhaps contributes to the relapsing nature of schizophrenia. Recent discoveries on the regulatory interactions between micro- and astroglial cells and immune regulatory T cells (Tregs) cohere with clinical omics data to suggest that: i) disinhibited astrocytes mediate the shift in microglial phenotype via the production of transforming growth factor-beta, which also contributes to the disturbances of dopamine and GABA function in schizophrenia, and ii) systemically impaired functioning of Treg cells contributes to the dysregulation of glial function, the low-grade peripheral inflammation, and the hitherto unexplained predisposition to auto-immunity and reduced life-expectancy in schizophrenia, including greater COVID-19 mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour, Division of Psychiatry, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, 14048-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bill Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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46
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Noyan H, Erdağ E, Tüzün E, Yaylım İ, Küçükhüseyin Ö, Hakan MT, Gülöksüz S, Rutten BPF, Saka MC, Atbaşoğlu C, Alptekin K, van Os J, Üçok A. Association of the kynurenine pathway metabolites with clinical, cognitive features and IL-1β levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and their siblings. Schizophr Res 2021; 229:27-37. [PMID: 33609988 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is evidence suggesting that tryptophan (TRP)-kynurenine (KYN) pathway dysregulation is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. The study investigate for the first time whether this dysregulation occurs in advanced stages of the disease as a byproduct or emerges as one of the early and inherited manifestations of schizophrenia. METHOD Sera of 148 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ), 139 unaffected siblings (SIB) and 210 controls were investigated. Serum interleukin (IL)-1β levels were measured by ELISA, and TRP, KYN and kynurenic acid (KYNA) levels were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Also, we collected clinical data by applying Comprehensive Assessment of Symptoms and History in SCZ, and SIS-R in SIB and control groups. RESULTS Compared to controls, SCZ and SIB groups had lower TRP and higher KYNA levels. TRP levels showed significant differences only between SCZ and controls (p < 0.01). KYNA levels of both SCZ (p ≤ 0.001) and SIB (p < 0.05) were higher than controls. No statistical significance was found for KYN levels across groups. SCZ and SIB groups had higher serum IL-1β levels than controls (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with SCZ and their siblings exhibited similar clinical features and TRP metabolite levels suggesting that TRP-KYN dysregulation may be an inherited component of the disease putatively conferring increased risk to schizophrenia. Elevation of IL-1β is one of the factors promoting overconsumption of the TRP-KYN pathway leading to increased production of neuroregulatory KYNA and presumably to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handan Noyan
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ece Erdağ
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Erdem Tüzün
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İlhan Yaylım
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özlem Küçükhüseyin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Tolgahan Hakan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sinan Gülöksüz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Bart P F Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Meram Can Saka
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Cem Atbaşoğlu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Köksal Alptekin
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - Alp Üçok
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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47
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Cao B, Chen Y, Ren Z, Pan Z, McIntyre RS, Wang D. Dysregulation of kynurenine pathway and potential dynamic changes of kynurenine in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 123:203-214. [PMID: 33513412 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine (KYN) pathway is postulated to play various roles in immune system dysregulation of schizophrenia (SCZ). We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the association between six key metabolites of KYN pathway (i.e., tryptophan (TRP), KYN, quinolinic acid (QUIN), and kynurenic acid (KYNA)) and SCZ. Priori Bonferroni adjustments were conducted for multiple comparisons. In total, 42 studies that examined the relationship between the metabolites in KYN pathway mentioned above and SCZ in 4217 participants and nine studies that examined alterations of these metabolites after antipsychotic treatments were included. The results demonstrate that (1) subjects with prescribed medication had significantly higher KYN levels when compared to controls; (2) higher KYN levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lower plasma KYN levels and higher CSF KYNA levels were associated with SCZ; (3) the KYN levels were higher in subjects with SCZ after antipsychotic treatments when compared with baseline. The evidence provides valuable insight of the potential underlying involvement of the KYN pathway in the pathogenesis of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Cao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Ministry of Education, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, PR China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Southwest University), Chongqing, PR China.
| | - Yan Chen
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zhongyu Ren
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Zihang Pan
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dongfang Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
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48
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Wright CJ, Rentschler KM, Wagner NTJ, Lewis AM, Beggiato S, Pocivavsek A. Time of Day-Dependent Alterations in Hippocampal Kynurenic Acid, Glutamate, and GABA in Adult Rats Exposed to Elevated Kynurenic Acid During Neurodevelopment. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:734984. [PMID: 34603109 PMCID: PMC8484637 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.734984] [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: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypofunction of glutamatergic signaling is causally linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Kynurenic acid (KYNA) has been found to be elevated in postmortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with psychotic illnesses and may be involved in the hypoglutamatergia and cognitive dysfunction experienced by these patients. As insults during the prenatal period are hypothesized to be linked to the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, we presently utilized the embryonic kynurenine (EKyn) paradigm to induce a prenatal hit. Pregnant Wistar dams were fed chow laced with kynurenine to stimulate fetal brain KYNA elevation from embryonic day 15 to embryonic day 22. Control dams (ECon) were fed unlaced chow. Plasma and hippocampal tissue from young adult (postnatal day 56) ECon and EKyn male and female offspring were collected at the beginning of the light (Zeitgeber time, ZT 0) and dark (ZT 12) phases to assess kynurenine pathway metabolites. Hippocampal tissue was also collected at ZT 6 and ZT 18. In separate animals, in vivo microdialysis was conducted in the dorsal hippocampus to assess extracellular KYNA, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Biochemical analyses revealed no changes in peripheral metabolites, yet hippocampal tissue KYNA levels were significantly impacted by EKyn treatment, and increased in male EKyn offspring at ZT 6. Interestingly, extracellular hippocampal KYNA levels were only elevated in male EKyn offspring during the light phase. Decreases in extracellular glutamate levels were found in the dorsal hippocampus of EKyn male and female offspring, while decreased GABA levels were present only in males during the dark phase. The current findings suggest that the EKyn paradigm may be a useful tool for investigation of sex- and time-dependent changes in hippocampal neuromodulation elicited by prenatal KYNA elevation, which may influence behavioral phenotypes and have translational relevance to psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney J Wright
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Katherine M Rentschler
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Nathan T J Wagner
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Ashley M Lewis
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ana Pocivavsek
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
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49
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Bhat A, Pires AS, Tan V, Babu Chidambaram S, Guillemin GJ. Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Tryptophan Metabolism. Int J Tryptophan Res 2020; 13:1178646920970902. [PMID: 33281456 PMCID: PMC7686593 DOI: 10.1177/1178646920970902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep has a regulatory role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and cellular functions. Inadequate sleep time and sleep disorders have become more prevalent in the modern lifestyle. Fragmentation of sleep pattern alters critical intracellular second messengers and neurotransmitters which have key functions in brain development and behavioral functions. Tryptophan metabolism has also been found to get altered in SD and it is linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. The kynurenine pathway is a major regulator of the immune response. Adequate sleep alleviates neuroinflammation and facilitates the cellular clearance of metabolic toxins produced within the brain, while sleep deprivation activates the enzymatic degradation of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway, which results in an increased accumulation of neurotoxic metabolites. SD causes increased production and accumulation of kynurenic acid in various regions of the brain. Higher levels of kynurenic acid have been found to trigger apoptosis, leads to cognitive decline, and inhibit neurogenesis. This review aims to link the impact of sleep deprivation on tryptophan metabolism and associated complication in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Bhat
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ananda Staats Pires
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vanessa Tan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Saravana Babu Chidambaram
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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50
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Repeated administration of LPS exaggerates amphetamine-induced locomotor response and causes learning deficits in mice. J Neuroimmunol 2020; 349:577401. [PMID: 33002724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune activation contributes to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Administration of a single dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) has been shown to induce depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents through activation of the kynurenine pathway, increasing levels of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist quinolinic acid. Conversely, repeated administration of LPS produces increased levels of the NMDA receptor antagonist kynurenic acid. Here we show that repeated LPS administration increases sensitivity to D-amphetamine and produces cognitive deficits and anxiety-like behavior. Together, our behavioral data suggests that repeated LPS administration may be useful to study the contribution of inflammation to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
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