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van Zundert SKM, Broekhuizen M, Smit AJP, van Rossem L, Mirzaian M, Willemsen SP, Danser AHJ, De Rijke YB, Reiss IKM, Merkus D, Steegers-Theunissen RPM. The Role of the Kynurenine Pathway in the (Patho) physiology of Maternal Pregnancy and Fetal Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Int J Tryptophan Res 2022; 15:11786469221135545. [PMID: 36467775 PMCID: PMC9716456 DOI: 10.1177/11786469221135545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tryptophan is the precursor of kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites which regulate immune tolerance, energy metabolism, and vascular tone. Since these processes are important during pregnancy, changes in KP metabolite concentrations may play a role in the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications. We hypothesize that KP metabolites can serve as novel biomarkers and preventive therapeutic targets. This review aimed to provide more insight into associations between KP metabolite concentrations in maternal and fetal blood, and in the placenta, and adverse maternal pregnancy and fetal outcomes. METHODS A systematic search was performed on 18 February 2022 comprising all KP metabolites, and keywords related to maternal pregnancy and fetal outcomes. English-written human studies measuring KP metabolite(s) in maternal or fetal blood or in the placenta in relation to pregnancy complications, were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the ErasmusAGE quality score (QS) (range: 0-10). A meta-analysis of the mean maternal tryptophan and kynurenine concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancies was conducted. RESULTS Of the 6262 unique records, 37 were included (median QS = 5). Tryptophan was investigated in most studies, followed by kynurenine, predominantly in maternal blood (n = 28/37), and in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (n = 29/37). Compared to uncomplicated pregnancies, decreased tryptophan in maternal blood was associated with an increased prevalence of depression, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth. Elevated tryptophan was only observed in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to normotensive pregnant women. In women with preeclampsia, only kynurenic acid was altered; elevated in the first trimester of pregnancy, and positively associated with proteinuria in the third trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS KP metabolite concentrations were altered in a variety of maternal pregnancy and fetal complications. This review implies that physiological pregnancy requires a tight balance of KP metabolites, and that disturbances in either direction are associated with adverse maternal pregnancy and fetal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie KM van Zundert
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Chemistry,
Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michelle Broekhuizen
- Division of Neonatology, Department of
Pediatrics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Pharmacology and Vascular
Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of Experimental Cardiology,
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The
Netherlands
| | - Ashley JP Smit
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lenie van Rossem
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mina Mirzaian
- Department of Clinical Chemistry,
Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sten P Willemsen
- Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus MC
University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - AH Jan Danser
- Division of Pharmacology and Vascular
Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda B De Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry,
Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Irwin KM Reiss
- Division of Neonatology, Department of
Pediatrics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daphne Merkus
- Division of Experimental Cardiology,
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The
Netherlands
- Walter Brendel Center of Experimental
Medicine, University Clinic Munich, Ludwig Maximillian University Munich, Munich,
Germany
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Huang X, Feng Z, Cheng H. Perspective: Gestational Tryptophan Fluctuation Altering Neuroembryogenesis and Psychosocial Development. Cells 2022; 11:1270. [PMID: 35455949 PMCID: PMC9032700 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan, as the sole precursor of serotonin, mainly derived from diets, is essential for neurodevelopment and immunomodulation. Gestational tryptophan fluctuation may account for the maternal-fetal transmission in determining neuroembryogenesis with long-lasting effects on psychological development. Personality disorders and social exclusion are related to psychosocial problems, leading to impaired social functioning. However, it is not clear how the fluctuation in mother-child transmission regulates the neuroendocrine development and gut microbiota composition in progeny due to that tryptophan metabolism in pregnant women is affected by multiple factors, such as diets (tryptophan-enriched or -depleted diet), emotional mental states (anxiety, depression), health status (hypertension, diabetes), and social support as well as stresses and management skills. Recently, we have developed a non-mammal model to rationalize those discrepancies without maternal effects. This perspective article outlines the possibility and verified the hypothesis in bully-victim research with this novel model: (1). Summarizes the effects of the maternal tryptophan administration on the neuroendocrine and microbial development in their offspring; (2). Highlights the inconsistency and limitations in studying the relationship between gestational tryptophan exposure and psychosocial development in humans and viviparous animals; and (3). Evidences that embryonic exposure to tryptophan and its metabolite modify bullying interactions in the chicken model. With the current pioneer researches on the biomechanisms underlying the bully-victim interaction, the perspective article provides novel insights for developing appropriate intervention strategies to prevent psychological disorders among individuals, especially those who experienced prenatal stress, by controlling dietary tryptophan and medication therapy during pregnancy.
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Miller CL. The Epigenetics of Psychosis: A Structured Review with Representative Loci. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030561. [PMID: 35327363 PMCID: PMC8945330 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The evidence for an environmental component in chronic psychotic disorders is strong and research on the epigenetic manifestations of these environmental impacts has commenced in earnest. In reviewing this research, the focus is on three genes as models for differential methylation, MCHR1, AKT1 and TDO2, each of which have been investigated for genetic association with psychotic disorders. Environmental factors associated with psychotic disorders, and which interact with these model genes, are explored in depth. The location of transcription factor motifs relative to key methylation sites is evaluated for predicted gene expression results, and for other sites, evidence is presented for methylation directing alternative splicing. Experimental results from key studies show differential methylation: for MCHR1, in psychosis cases versus controls; for AKT1, as a pre-existing methylation pattern influencing brain activation following acute administration of a psychosis-eliciting environmental stimulus; and for TDO2, in a pattern associated with a developmental factor of risk for psychosis, in all cases the predicted expression impact being highly dependent on location. Methylation induced by smoking, a confounding variable, exhibits an intriguing pattern for all three genes. Finally, how differential methylation meshes with Darwinian principles is examined, in particular as it relates to the “flexible stem” theory of evolution.
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