The application of stable isotope breath test and biopterin administration to the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric disorders

• Project/Area Number: 22659215
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: KUNUGI Hiroshi 独立行政法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所疾病研究第三部, 部長 (40234471)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000)
• Keywords: 脳・神経 / 脳神経疾患 / 神経科学 / 薬学 / バイオテクノロジー

Research Abstract

Phenylalanine is required for the synthesis of catecholamines. C^^<13>-labeled phenylalanine breath test(C^^<13>-PBT), in which total C^^<13> O_2 produced through metabolism of C^^<13>-phenylalanine was measured as C^^<13> O_2/C^^<12> O_2 ratio, was administered to psychiatric patients. The subjects were 91 schizophrenia, 77 depression, 32 bipolar disorder patients and 181 controls. C^^<13>-PBT results and serum BH4 level were significantly lower in the schizophrenia patients than in the controls. C^^<13>-PBT after administration of BH4 was conducted in patients who had had both low C^^<13>-PBT results and serum BH4 level, however C^^<13>-PBT results were not improved. Examination of relationship between phenylalanine metabolism measured by breath test, BH4 level, and psychiatric symptoms may attribute to elucidate the pathophysiology of mental disease.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] C^<13>-phenylalanine breath test detects altered phenylalanine kinetics in schizophrenia patients (2012)
  • Author(s): Toshiya Teraishi, Yuji Ozeki, Hiroaki Hori, Daimei Sasayama, Shuichi Chiba, Noriko Yamamoto, Haruko Tanaka, Yoshimi Iijima, Junko Matsuo, Yumiko Kawamoto, Yukiko Kinoshita, Kotaro Hattori, Miho Ota, Masahiro Kajiwara, Sumio Terada, Teruhiko Higuchi, Hiroshi Kunugi
  • Journal Title: Translational Psychiatry Volume: 2 Issue: 5 Pages: e119-e119
  • DOI: 10.1038/tp.2012.48
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] ^<13>C-phenylalanine breath test detects altered phenylalanine kinetics in schizophrenia patients (2012)
  • Author(s): Toshiya Teraishi, Yuji Ozeki, Hiroaki Hori, Daimei Sasayama, Shuichi Chiba, Noriko Yamamoto, Haruko Tanaka, Yoshimi Iijima, Junko Matsuo, Yumiko Kawamoto, Yukiko Kinoshita, Kotaro Hattori, Miho ota, Masahiro Kajiwara, Sumio Terada, Teruhiko Higuchi, Hiroshi Kunugi
  • Journal Title: Translational psychiatry Volume: (In press)
  • Peer Reviewed