Interferon-beta affects the tryptophan metabolism in multiple sclerosis patients

Tryptophan and its metabolites are of great interest in understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The total levels of tryptophan and its metabolites, kynurenine and kynurenic acid were determined in plasma by capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amirkhani A.
Rajda Cecilia
Arvidsson B.
Bencsik Krisztina
Boda Krisztina
Seres Erika
Markides K. E.
Vécsei László
Bergquist Jonas
Format: Article
Published: 2005
Series:EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY 12 No. 8
doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2005.01041.x

mtmt:1032196
Online Access:http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/10083
Description
Summary:Tryptophan and its metabolites are of great interest in understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The total levels of tryptophan and its metabolites, kynurenine and kynurenic acid were determined in plasma by capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. This is the first report of the plasma levels of these analytes in healthy controls and relapsing-remitting MS patients receiving long-term and acute interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment. Twenty-four hours post-administration increased kynurenine levels (first IFN MS versus healthy, P = 0.042) and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (K/T; first IFN MS versus healthy, P =0.027; first IFN MS versus long-term IFN MS, P = 0.036) were found. The long-term IFN MS group had higher K/T ratios at 4 and 12 h post-administration (P = 0.015 and 0.009, respectively). The increase of K/T ratio in the first IFN MS group indicate an induction of the enzyme indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), as reported earlier in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. As IDO is participating in both inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, further knowledge of its involvement in the pathogenesis of MS is of great importance.
Physical Description:625-631
ISSN:1351-5101