Phase-and disorder-specific differences in peripheral metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in major depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia
Brum M, Nieberler M, Kehrwald C, Knopf K, Brunkhorst-Kanaan N, Etyemez S, Allers KA, Bittner RA, Slattery DA, McNeill RV, Reif A, Kittel-Schneider S (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
Book Volume: 24
Pages Range: 564-577
Journal Issue: 7
DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2023.2169348
Abstract
Objectives: Kynurenine, kynurenic and quinolinic acid are important metabolites in tryptophan metabolism. Due to an involvement in glutamatergic neurotransmission and immune response, previous studies have investigated this pathway in mental disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) or schizophrenia (SCZ). Tryptophan and kynurenine have been shown to be decreased across disorders, hinting at the missing link how inflammation causes neurotoxicity and psychiatric symptoms. The main aim of our study was to investigate if individual catabolites could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for MDD, BD and SCZ. Methods: We measured plasma levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid and ratio of quinolinic acid/kynurenic acid using mass spectrometry in n = 175 participants with acute episodes and after remission, compared with controls. Results: Decreased levels of all tryptophan catabolites were found in the whole patient group, driven by the difference between BD and HC. Manic and mixed phase BD individuals displayed significantly lower kynurenine and kynurenic acid levels. We could not find significant differences between disorders. Upon reaching remission, changes in catabolite levels partially normalised. Conclusions: Our data suggests an involvement of the kynurenine pathway in mental disorders, especially BD but disqualifying those metabolites as biomarkers for differential diagnosis.
Involved external institutions
Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main (KGU)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Germany (DE)
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Germany (DE)
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Brum, M., Nieberler, M., Kehrwald, C., Knopf, K., Brunkhorst-Kanaan, N., Etyemez, S.,... Kittel-Schneider, S. (2023). Phase-and disorder-specific differences in peripheral metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in major depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 24(7), 564-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2023.2169348
MLA:
Brum, Murielle, et al. "Phase-and disorder-specific differences in peripheral metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in major depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia." World Journal of Biological Psychiatry 24.7 (2023): 564-577.
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