TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Tryptophan and kynurenine metabolites: are they related to depression?
JO  - Neuropsychobiology
A1  - Pompili, Maurizio
A1  - Lionetto, Luana
A1  - Curto, Martina
A1  - Forte, Alberto
A1  - Erbuto, Denise
A1  - Montebovi, Franco
A1  - Seretti, Maria Elena
A1  - Berardelli, Isabella
A1  - Serafini, Gianluca
A1  - Innamorati, Marco
A1  - Amore, Mario
A1  - Baldessarini, Ross J.
A1  - Girardi, Paolo
A1  - Simmaco, Maurizio
SP  - 23
EP  - 28
VL  - 77
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Some previous studies found decreased concentrations of L-tryptophan (TRY) and increased L-kynurenine (KYN), or its metabolites, in the body fluids of subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), sometimes in association with suicidal behavior. Such changes might indicate a shift of TRY away from serotonin production, possibly via the effects of inflammatory peptides which activate indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase. However, these findings have been inconsistent and require replication. <br><br>METHODS: We used sensitive liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry methods to assay plasma concentrations of TRY, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and KYN and its metabolites (anthranilic acid and xanthurenic acid). We compared 49 hospitalized, depressed subjects diagnosed with MDD (n = 37) or bipolar disorder (BD, n = 12), with (n = 22) or without (n = 27) previous suicide attempts, to 78 healthy, ambulatory controls of similar age and sex (total n = 127). <br><br>FINDINGS: Contrary to expectation, TRY plasma concentrations were higher, KYN plasma concentrations were lower, and their ratio much higher in depressed subjects, with no relationship to suicidal history. Concentrations of 5-HIAA and the kynurenine metabolites did not differ between depressed and healthy subjects. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings are opposite to expectations and not consistent with a hypothesized increased conversion from TRY to KYN in depressed subjects. In addition, we found no evidence of altered production of serotonin as 5-HIAA concentration was unchanged. None of the observed changes was associated with a history of suicide attempt.<br><br>© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0302-282X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000491604
ID  - ref1
ER  -