Disturbances of Kynurenine Pathway of Trytophan Metabolism in Schizophrenia: A Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Study

Completed

Conditions studied: Schizophrenia

In brief

In this pilot study, the investigators propose to characterize the pattern of activation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism in peripheral macrophages of patients with schizophrenia. To do this, the investigators will measure the gene expression of several major enzymes in this pathway in macrophages, including the key enzyme involved in tryptophan to kynurenine metabolism, IDO, by means of quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The focus on enzyme mRNA expression as opposed to serum or cerebrospinal fluid levels of metabolites provides a possibly more sensitive characterization of the activation of this metabolic pathway.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00573300

Run by

North Suffolk Mental Health Association

People needed

60

Starts

2006-01-01

Expected to finish

2009-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2009-08-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosis of Schizophrenia, any subtype or schizoaffective disorder
• Ages 18-65 years
• Males or females
• English speaking with ability to complete symptom ratings
• Ability to provide informed consent

Where it is running

• Freedom Trail Clinic — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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