Increased Serum Neurotrophin Levels Related to Alcohol Use Disorder in a Young Population Sample

Background The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder is based on clinical signs and on the measurement of biological markers. However, these markers are neither sufficiently sensitive, nor specific enough, for determining the effects of alcohol abuse on the central nervous system. Serum neurotrophins ar...

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Published in:Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research clinical and experimental research, 2015-01, Vol.39 (1), p.30-35
Main Authors: Lhullier, Alfredo C., Moreira, Fernanda P., da Silva, Ricardo A., Marques, Melina B., Bittencourt, Guilherme, Pinheiro, Ricardo T., Souza, Luciano D. M., Portela, Luis Valmor, Lara, Diogo R., Jansen, Karen, Wiener, Carolina D., Oses, Jean Pierre
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
Alcohol Epidemiology
Alcohol use
Alcoholism - blood
Biomarkers - blood
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood
Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Humans
Male
Nerve Growth Factor
Nerve Growth Factor - blood
Young Adult
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Summary:Background The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder is based on clinical signs and on the measurement of biological markers. However, these markers are neither sufficiently sensitive, nor specific enough, for determining the effects of alcohol abuse on the central nervous system. Serum neurotrophins are important regulators of neural survival, development, function, and plasticity and have been found to be reduced in alcohol use disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in serum neurotrophin levels (brain‐derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], glial‐derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF], and nerve growth factor [NGF]) in alcohol use disorder in a young population, and thus possibly representing the early stages of the illness. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study, nested in a population‐based study of people aged 18 to 35, involving 795 participants. The participants responded to the CAGE questionnaire, and a CAGE score of ≥2 was considered to be a positive screen for the abuse/dependence or moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. Serum BDNF, GDNF, and NGF levels were measured by ELISA. Results In the CAGE ≥ 2 group, GDNF (p ≤ 0.001) and NGF (p ≤ 0.001) serum levels were significantly increased, and the BDNF elevation was near a statistical significance (p = 0.068) when compared to the CAGE 
ISSN:0145-6008
1530-0277
DOI:10.1111/acer.12592