Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify potential plasma metabolic biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease (PD)

Background: PD, characterized by a slowness of movement and a difficulty in initiating movement, affects 1% of the population aged over sixty, and is, presents with a predominant degeneration of neurons in the striatum and cortex with uncertain aetiology. However, the ideal biomarkers for PD remain to be identified.

Methods: Using the Absolute-IDQ®p180 Kit, we quantified the plasma levels of 184 metabolites in 82 PD patients and 82 controls. Seven kynurenine-related metabolites were further validated.

Results: We found two up-regulated (dopamine, putrescine/ornithine ratio) and 4 down-regulated (octadecadienylcarnitine C18:2, asymmetric dimethylarginine, tryptophan and kynurenine) metabolites in the plasma of PD patients. We further measured the plasma levels of a panel of metabolic products of kynurenine pathway. PD patients at late stage (Hoehn-Yahr stage 3 ~ 4) demonstrated lower levels of kynurenic acid and higher quinolinic acid/kynurenic acid ratio compared with those at early stage (Hoehn-Yahr stage 1 ~ 2) and controls.   

Conclusions: Metabolomic profile demonstrates a number of plasma biomarker candidates for PD. The alteration of kynurenine metabolism further provides a potential target for future drug development with the aim to achieve neuroprotection in PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/alternations-of-metabolic-profile-and-kynurenine-metabolism-in-the-plasma-of-parkinsons-disease/