Kynurenine pathway changes in late-life depression with memory deficit

Psychiatry Research
Yujie WuYuping Ning

Abstract

Kynurenine pathway (KP) activation is associated with many neuropsychiatric diseases, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Investigations conducted on MDD seldom shed light on KP changes in late-life depression (LLD), though memory deficit (MD) in patients with LLD is a predictable sign of AD. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether tryptophan (TRP) metabolism and kynurenine (KYN) metabolism were imbalanced in patients with LLD with MD and in patients with LLD without MD. We explored KP characteristics between LLD with MD and LLD without MD groups. We investigated 85 patients with LLD and MD, 71 patients with LLD without MD, and 129 healthy controls (HCs). Serum concentrations of TRP, KYN, and kynurenic acid (KYNA) were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Cognition performance was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Language ability was assessed by the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17). Lower TRP and KYNA levels, a lower KYNA/KYN ratio and a higher KYN/TRP ratio were found in patients with LLD and MD compared to those in HC. Low levels of TRP and KYN, in the absence of a changed K...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 8, 2019·Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility·Robert L BurrMargaret Heitkemper
May 20, 2020·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Yujie WuYuping Ning
May 25, 2021·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Samara J BrownKelly A Newell
May 26, 2021·Physiology & Behavior·Mirna Guadalupe Martínez-DamasRamón Mauricio Coral-Vázquez
Jun 28, 2021·Psychiatry Research·Antonio Molina-CarballoAntonio Muñoz-Hoyos

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