Cited by 115Tryptophan and brain disordersSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesTreatment of Major Depression

The role of the kynurenine pathway in suicidality in adolescent major depressive disorder

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Bradley, Kailyn A.L., Case, Julia A.C., Khan, Omar, Ricart, Thomas, Hanna, Amira, Alonso, Carmen M., Gabbay, Vilma·2015·Psychiatry Research

Abstract

The neuroimmunological kynurenine pathway (KP) has been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and adolescents, most recently in suicidality in adults. The KP is initiated by the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which degrades tryptophan (TRP) into kynurenine (KYN) en route to neurotoxins. Here, we examined the KP in 20 suicidal depressed adolescents-composed of past attempters and those who expressed active suicidal intent-30 non-suicidal depressed youth, and 22 healthy controls (HC). Plasma levels of TRP, KYN, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), and KYN/TRP (index of IDO) were assessed. Suicidal adolescents showed decreased TRP and elevated KYN/TRP compared to both non-suicidal depressed adolescents and HC. Findings became more significantly pronounced when excluding medicated participants, wherein there was also a significant positive correlation between KYN/TRP and suicidality. Finally, although depressed adolescents with a history of suicide attempt differed from acutely suicidal adolescents with respect to disease severity, anhedonia, and suicidality, the groups did not differ in KP measures. Our findings suggest a possible specific role of the KP in suicidality in depressed adolescents, while illustrating the clinical phenomenon that depressed adolescents with a history of suicide attempt are similar to acutely suicidal youth and are at increased risk for completion of suicide.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.03.031

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  • Greater suicidal ideation severity is associated with higher CRP, IL-6, and IL-10 levels and with activated microglia-related alterations of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway.

    “Greater suicidal ideation severity is associated with higher CRP (197), IL-6, and IL-10 levels (215) and with activated microglia-related alterations of the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway (216).”

    From A brain-centric model of suicidal behavior (2020) · cites this paper as [216]

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Authors
Bradley, K. A. L., Case, J. A. C., Khan, O., Ricart, T., Hanna, A., Alonso, C. M., & Gabbay, V.
Affiliations
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • NYU Langone Health (US)
  • Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (US)
Corresponding author
Gabbay, Vilma
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-06
Volume
227
Issue
2-3
Pages
206-212
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2055909204
Cited by
115
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4
FWCI
2.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
NIH (MH095807, MH101479)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
kynurenine pathway, suicidality, adolescent major depressive disorder, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, tryptophan metabolism, kynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, suicide attempts, suicidal intent, neuroimmunology, plasma biomarkers
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Kynurenine, Male, Suicide, Suicide, Attempted, Tryptophan, Biomarkers, Anhedonia

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