[Kynurenine pathway in bipolar disorder].

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Immunology

Background:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) involves cerebral dysfunctions, cognitive deficits, and sleep disturbances.
• The neurobiological underpinnings of these BD symptoms are not fully understood.
• Immune-inflammatory mechanisms, particularly tryptophan (TRP) metabolism via the kynurenine pathway (KYN), are increasingly studied in BD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing data on the kynurenine pathway's role in BD pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and disease course.
• To explore the association between KYN metabolites and BD symptoms.
• To identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers related to the KYN pathway in BD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review using PubMed (Medline) and Google Scholar.
• Searched for manuscripts in English and Greek.
• Keywords included: bipolar disorder, tryptophan, kynurenine pathway, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disorder, neuroinflammation.

Main Results:

• The KYN pathway is actively involved in BD pathophysiology.
• Increased neurotoxic KYN metabolites correlate with cognitive impairment in BD.
• Certain KYN metabolites are suspected contributors to sleep disorders in BD.

Conclusions:

• The KYN pathway represents a significant interaction between the immune-inflammatory system and the central nervous system in BD.
• Further investigation into KYN metabolites could lead to novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for BD.
• KYN pathway metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection, staging, and monitoring of BD patients.