Cited by 388Tryptophan and brain disordersNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Interleukin-1β: A New Regulator of the Kynurenine Pathway Affecting Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis

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Zunszain, Patricia A, Anacker, Christoph, Cattaneo, Annamaria, Choudhury, Shanas, Musaelyan, Ksenia, Myint, Aye Mu, Thuret, Sandrine, Price, Jack +1 more·2012·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

Increased inflammation and reduced neurogenesis have been associated with the pathophysiology of major depression. Here, we show for the first time how IL-1β, a pro-inflammatory cytokine shown to be increased in depressed patients, decreases neurogenesis in human hippocampal progenitor cells. IL-1β was detrimental to neurogenesis, as shown by a decrease in the number of doublecortin-positive neuroblasts (-28%), and mature, microtubule-associated protein-2-positive neurons (-36%). Analysis of the enzymes that regulate the kynurenine pathway showed that IL-1β induced an upregulation of transcripts for indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and kynureninase (42-, 12- and 30-fold increase, respectively, under differentiating conditions), the enzymes involved in the neurotoxic arm of the kynurenine pathway. Moreover, treatment with IL-1β resulted in an increase in kynurenine, the catabolic product of IDO-induced tryptophan metabolism. Interestingly, co-treatment with the KMO inhibitor Ro 61-8048 reversed the detrimental effects of IL-1β on neurogenesis. These observations indicate that IL-1β has a critical role in regulating neurogenesis whereas affecting the availability of tryptophan and the production of enzymes conducive to toxic metabolites. Our results suggest that inhibition of the kynurenine pathway may provide a new therapy to revert inflammatory-induced reduction in neurogenesis.

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Authors
Zunszain, P. A., Anacker, C., Cattaneo, A., Choudhury, S., Musaelyan, K., Myint, A. M., Thuret, S., Price, J., & Pariante, C. M.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Brescia (IT)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Corresponding author
Pariante, Carmine M
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2011-11-09
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
939-949
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2128944765
Cited by
388
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 17
FWCI
6.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Research Councils UK
  • Medical Research Council (MR/J002739/1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
IL-1β, kynurenine pathway, hippocampal neurogenesis, neurogenesis, major depressive disorder, inflammation, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, kynurenine 3-monooxygenase, kynureninase, tryptophan metabolism, neurotoxic metabolites, hippocampal progenitor cells
MeSH terms
Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Hippocampus, Humans, Inflammation, Kynurenine, Neural Inhibition, Signal Transduction, Multipotent Stem Cells, Interleukin-1beta, Neurogenesis

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