A role for the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism in schizophrenia? A comprehensive review

Schizophrenia is believed to arise from complex gene-environment interactions. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal development, differentiation and plasticity. A functional single nucleotide polymorphism that results in a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2015-04, Vol.51, p.15-30
Main Authors: Notaras, Michael, Hill, Rachel, van den Buuse, Maarten
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brain - pathology
Brain - physiopathology
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism
Humans
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Schizophrenia - genetics
Schizophrenia - pathology
Schizophrenia - physiopathology
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Summary:Schizophrenia is believed to arise from complex gene-environment interactions. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal development, differentiation and plasticity. A functional single nucleotide polymorphism that results in a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at codon 66 (Val66Met) results in the aberrant sorting and release of mature BDNF through the activity-dependent secretion pathway. The Val66Met polymorphism has been linked to impaired neurocognitive function in healthy adults, and identified as a locus of risk for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the relationship between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and schizophrenia, integrating evidence from the fields of genetic epidemiology, clinical psychiatry, behavioral neuroscience and neuroimaging. We argue that while the Val66Met polymorphism may not be a major risk-conferring agent for the development of schizophrenia per se, there is mounting evidence that the polymorphism modulates a range of clinical features of the illness, including age of onset, symptoms, therapeutic responsiveness, neurocognitive function and brain morphology.
ISSN:0149-7634
1873-7528
DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.12.016