What is it about?
Infections with HIV-1 evoke an immune response which is associated with disturbed biochemistry of amino acids, some of which are important for biosynthesis of neurotransmitters.
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Why is it important?
Disturbed tryptophan metabolism can lead to serotonin deficiency. In parallel, neuroprotectant kynurenic acid and neurotoxin quinolinic acid are formed. Disturbed phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism influences dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. The tryptophan breakdown rates, e.g., the kynurenine to tryptophan ratios, as well as the phenylalanine to tyrosine ratios in the blood are representative for the availability of these amino acids for the transport into the brain and thus for neuotransmitter biosynthesis.
Perspectives
The measurement of the kynurenine to tryptophan ratios and of phenylalanine an tyrosine ratios in the blood will allow better classification of patients who is more likely to respond to therapy with selective serotinin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) versus, e.g., selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI).
PhD Dietmar N Fuchs
Medical University of Innsbruck
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Immune activation and neuropsychiatric symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection, Neurobehavioral HIV Medicine, January 2012, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.2147/nbhiv.s17409.
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