The putative endogenous convulsant 3-hydroxykynurenine decreases benzodiazepine receptor binding affinity: implications to seizures associated with neonatal vitamin B-6 deficiency

3-Hydroxykynurenine: an intriguing molecule exerting dual actions in the central nervous system

Kynurenine pathway is gaining attention due to the many metabolic processes in which it has been involved. The tryptophan conversion into several other metabolites through this pathway provides neuronal and redox modulators useful for maintenance of major functions in the brain. However, when physiopathological conditions prevail - i.e. oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and inflammation - preferential formation and accumulation of toxic metabolites could trigger factors for degeneration in neurological disorders. 3-Hydroxykynurenine has been largely described as one of these toxic metabolites capable of inducing oxidative damage and cell death; consequently, this metabolite has been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in different neurological and psychiatric disorders. Supporting evidence has shown altered 3-hydroxykynurenine levels in samples of patients from several disorders. In contrast, some experimental studies have provided evidence of antioxidant and scavenging properties inherent to this molecule. In this review, we explored most of literature favoring one or the other concept, in order to provide an accurate vision on the real participation of this tryptophan metabolite in both experimental paradigms and human brain pathologies. Through this collected evidence, we provide an integrative hypothesis on how 3-hydroxykynurenine is exerting its dual actions in the central nervous system and what will be the course of investigations in this field for the next years.

Kynurenines in the CNS: from endogenous obscurity to therapeutic importance

In just under 20 years the kynurenine family of compounds has developed from a group of obscure metabolites of the essential amino acid tryptophan into a source of intensive research, with postulated roles for quinolinic acid in neurodegenerative disorders, most especially the AIDS-dementia complex and Huntington's disease. One of the kynurenines, kynurenic acid, has become a standard tool for use in the identification of glutamate-releasing synapses, and has been used as the parent for several groups of compounds now being developed as drugs for the treatment of epilepsy and stroke. The kynurenines represent a major success in translating a basic discovery into a source of clinical understanding and therapeutic application, with around 3000 papers published on quinolinic acid or kynurenic acid since the discovery of their effects in 1981 and 1982. This review concentrates on some of the recent work most directly relevant to the understanding and applications of kynurenines in medicine.

Relationships between Pregnancy and Vitamin B-6 Nutriture on Brain 3-Hydroxykynurenine Concentrations in Mice

The kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan metabolism produces several neuroactive metabolites, including 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK). The pathway is subject to regulation by a number of effectors including pregnancy and availability of vitamin B-6. Vitamin B-6 depleted humans and animals excrete abnormally high concentrations of KYN metabolites in urine. In pregnancy, vitamin B-6 deficiency is commonly seen, and tryptophan metabolism is often found to be altered. We measured concentrations of 3HK in brains of DBA/2Ibg and A/Ibg mice as functions of pregnancy and dietary level of vitamin B-6. Pregnant DBA mice are more susceptible to flurothyl-induced seizures than controls, pregnant A mice are not. Significant elevations of 3HK were found in brains of pregnant mice, and the increases were greater in the pregnancy-associated seizure prone DBA, than in the A mice. In the A mice, brain 3HK concentrations were negatively correlated with dietary vitamin B-6 levels, as expected; however, in the DBA mice these correlations were positive, indicating an unusual response to vitamin B-6 restriction. The accumulation of a cytotoxic, excitatory metabolite, 3HK, in brain may contribute to the increased seizure susceptibility of susceptible pregnant mice, perhaps though its effects as an endogenous modulator of excitatory amino acid receptor systems.

Behavioral and neurochemical changes in folate-deficient mice

Weanling mice were fed an amino acid-based diet supplemented with 0 or 11.3 mumol folic acid/kg diet for approximately 38 days to study behavior and neurochemistry in folate deficiency. After approximately 5 wk, mice fed the unsupplemented diet weighted approximately 70% as much those fed the supplemented diet. After 2 wk, mice fed the unsupplemented diet consistently discarded (spilled) more food, and after approximately 5 wk, they had spilled 3 times more than mice fed the supplemented diet. Serum folate, brain folate and brain S-adenosylmethionine of mice fed the unsupplemented diet were 4, 53, and 60% as high, respectively, as those of mice fed the supplemented diet. Pathologic changes were not evident in brain, spinal cord, or skeletal muscle of folate-deficient mice. The hypothalamic 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid/serotonin ratio and caudate dopamine, homovanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations were lower in deficient than control mice. Folate-deficient mice develop a behavioral activity, food spilling, which may have a neurochemical basis in the serotonin and dopamine systems.

Postnatal development and GABA allosteric modulation of benzodiazepine receptor binding in the vitamin B-6 deficient rat brain

We have measured the postnatal development and GABA modulation of benzodiazepine receptors in neuronal membranes from vitamin B-6 deficient and normal rats. In rats fed vitamin B-6 adequate and deficient diets there were age-dependent changes in [3H]flunitrazepam binding site affinity and in the number of binding sites. Vitamin B-6 deficiency produced a significant reduction in the potency of GABA to enhance [3H]flunitrazepam binding to cortical membranes prepared from 14 day old rats. These results suggests an uncoupling of the GABAa/benzodiazepine receptor at a developmental period when the animals are most susceptible to spontaneous seizures.

Abnormal endogenous amino acid release in brain slices from vitamin B-6 restricted neonatal rats

The basal and potassium-evoked efflux of glutamate, glycine, taurine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was measured in brain slices from vitamin B-6 restricted and sufficient 14-day-old rats. The results indicate a reduced level of basal glutamate, taurine, and GABA efflux in hippocampal slices and taurine and GABA in cortical slices from vitamin B-6 restricted animals. In the presence of depolarizing potassium concentrations, there was a reduced level of GABA efflux in hippocampal and cortical slices, and a marked reduction in the release of glutamate in cortical slices from B-6 restricted rats. The abnormalities in the secretion process of these neuroactive amino acids may be related to the neurological sequelae associated with neonatal vitamin B-6 restriction.

The psychopharmacology of GABA synapses: update 1989

Recent advances in the psychopharmacology of GABA synapses are reviewed. The usefulness of GABA mimetics in tardive dyskinesia and epilepsy has been confirmed, as has a dysfunction of GABA synapses in the etiopathology of these conditions. The antidepressant profile of GABA agonists in animal models for depression has been extended. The role of GABA receptors in the mechanism of action of antidepressants has been further delineated, with a parallelism occurring between the behavioral and biochemical response to antidepressant drug treatment in different animal models of depression.

Regional changes in the concentrations of glutamate, glycine, taurine, and GABA in the vitamin B-6 deficient developing rat brain: association with neonatal seizures

It is well known that a dietary restriction of vitamin B-6 during gestation and lactation produces spontaneous seizures in neonatal animals. Since pyridoxal phosphate, one of the biologically active forms of vitamin B-6, is the cofactor for GAD the neonatal seizures have been attributed to low levels of brain GABA as a result of cofactor depletion. Although GABA levels are significantly lower in B-6 restricted neonatal rats with spontaneous seizures, seizure activity is not present in B-6 deficient adult rats or 28 day old rats in the present study, despite significantly low levels of brain GABA. These facts suggest that depletion of GABA is not the only biochemical alteration essential for the emergence of seizures. In the present study, the effect of vitamin B-6 undernutrition on the concentrations of the neuroactive amino acids, Glu, Gly, Tau, and GABA was determined in selected regions of the developing rat brain. The results show that the concentrations of Glu, Tau, and GABA were significantly lower and GLY significantly higher in selected brain regions of the B-6 restricted 14 day old rat compared to control tissue. Most of these changes were unique to 14 days of age, the time when spontaneous seizures are observed, and not present at 28 or 56 days of age when seizures are absent. This pattern of amino acid changes in the brain and the magnitude of the changes was consistent with those measured in a variety of chemically-induced animal models of epilepsy and in human epileptic foci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)