Prenatal nicotine exposure and inflammation in adulthood affect to tryptophan metabolites and aggravate psychiatric disorders.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26860368
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Doshisha University (2015-2016); Kyoto University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Yuki 同志社大学, 研究開発推進機構, 助教 (50580106)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: トリプトファン / ニコチン / 抑うつ / 慢性炎症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is not clarified how nicotine exposure during the pregnancy, and then inflammation in adulthood affect behaviors of offspring. In this study, we examined the influence of nicotine exposure during embryonic period (E14-P0) and inflammation induced by IFN-gamma; gene transfection in adulthood on the changes of tryptophan (TRP) metabolites and depression like behavior. We found that embryonic nicotine exposure affected changing TRP metabolites concentrations in serum, especially kynurenic acid (KA), which is antagonist of alpha7nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. We also found nicotine exposure during the embryonic period and inflammation in adulthood exacerbated depression like behavior and anxiety. In conclusion, our results suggest that nicotine in embryonic period affected TRP metabolites and caused imbalance of TRP metabolites. And nicotine exposure during the neuronal development and inflammation in adulthood might be related with onset of psychiatric disorders.

Free Research Field

病態解析