A history of suicide attempts among individuals with schizophrenia is associated with tryptophan degradation via the salivary kynurenine pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tryptophan, an essential precursor metabolite within the kynurenine pathway, has been implicated in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying both schizophrenia and associated suicidality. Despite this link, the lack of validated biomarkers to identify patients with dysregulated kynurenine pathway activity hinders patient stratification, thereby impeding the clinical development of pathway-targeted interventions.

Methods

This study enrolled 288 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (36 with prior suicide attempts, 252 without) and 202 healthy controls. Saliva samples were collected to quantify concentrations of tryptophan and associated kynurenine pathway metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results

Patients with a

SUBMITTER: Yin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12723944 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature