Sex‐specific metabolic signatures in methamphetamine addicts. (23rd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Zhen; Peng, Yaqin; Wen, Jun; Chen, Wenwen; Pan, Weichao; Xu, Xing; Lu, Xue; Cai, Qinglong; Ge, Feifei; Fan, Yu; Wang, Jun; Guan, Xiaowei
• Is Part Of: Addiction biology. Volume 28:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-11-23
• Subjects: human serum metabolomics -- methamphetamine -- sex‐specific metabolites -- UHPLC–MS; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.13255
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6215

Abstract

Abstract: Methamphetamine (METH) is a commonly abused addictive psychostimulant, and METH‐induced neurotoxic and behavioural deficits are in a sex‐specific manner. However, there is lack of biomarkers to evaluate METH addiction in clinical practice, especially for gender differences. We utilized ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) to detect the serum metabolomics in METH addicts and controls, specially exploring the sex‐specific metabolic alterations by METH abuse. We found that many differently expressed metabolites in METH addicts related to metabolisms of amino acid, energy, vitamin and neurological disorders. Further, METH abuse caused different patterns of metabolomics in a sex‐specific manner. As to amino acid metabolism, L‐phenylalanine, L‐tryptophan and L‐histidine in serum of male addicts and betaine in serum of female addicts were significantly changed by METH use. In addition, it seemed that purine and pyrimidine‐related metabolites (e.g., xanthosine and adenosine 5′‐monophosphate) in male and the metabolites of hormone (e.g., cortisol) and folate biosynthesis (e.g., 7, 8‐dihydrobiopterin and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid) in female were more sensitive to METH addiction. Our findings revealed that L‐glutamic acid, L‐aspartic acid, alpha‐ketoglutarate acid and citric acid may be potential biomarkers for monitoring METH addiction in clinic. Considering sex‐specific toxicity by METH, the metabolites of purine and pyrimidine metabolism in male and those of stress‐related hormones in female may be used to facilitate the accurate diagnosis and treatment for METH addicts of different genders. Abstract : METH abuse causes different patterns of metabolomics in a sex‐specific manner. L‐glutamic acid, L‐aspartic acid, alpha‐ketoglutarate acid and citric acid are potential biomarkers for monitoring METH addiction in clinic. L‐phenylalanine, L‐tryptophan, L‐histidine, xanthosine and adenosine 5′‐monophosphate in male and betaine, cortisol, 7, 8‐dihydrobiopterin and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid in female may be used as indicators to facilitate the accurate diagnosis and treatment for METH addiction in male and female addicts, respectively.