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A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
Published on: August 19, 2018
Elevated plasma kynurenine in Tourette syndrome
S M Dursun1, G Farrar, S L Handley
1Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Fasting kynurenine levels were higher in patients with Tourette syndrome compared to healthy individuals. This elevation may not stem from immune system activation, suggesting alternative pathways in Tourette syndrome pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Tourette syndrome is a complex neurological disorder.
- The kynurenine pathway is implicated in various neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- Understanding biochemical alterations in Tourette syndrome is crucial for identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma kynurenine concentrations in individuals diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
- To explore the relationship between kynurenine levels and potential immune system involvement in Tourette syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Fasting plasma samples were collected from 7 patients with Tourette syndrome and 10 healthy controls.
- Plasma concentrations of kynurenine, biopterin, and neopterin were measured.
- Statistical comparison between patient and control groups was performed.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated fasting plasma kynurenine concentrations were observed in patients with Tourette syndrome compared to healthy controls.
- Plasma biopterin and neopterin concentrations were normal in the Tourette syndrome group.
- The findings suggest that the observed kynurenine elevation is unlikely due to peripheral cellular immune mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Elevated kynurenine pathway metabolites may play a role in the pathophysiology of Tourette syndrome.
- The results indicate that the observed biochemical changes are likely independent of peripheral immune system activation.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms driving kynurenine pathway dysregulation in Tourette syndrome.
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