Plasma and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in depressed patients during 1 year of antidepressant treatments

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2008-01, Vol.105 (1), p.279-283
• Main Authors: Piccinni, Armando, Marazziti, Donatella, Catena, Mario, Domenici, Luciano, Del Debbio, Alessandro, Bianchi, Carolina, Mannari, Claudio, Martini, Claudia, Da Pozzo, Eleonora, Schiavi, Elisa, Mariotti, Alessandra, Roncaglia, Isabella, Palla, Agnese, Consoli, Giorgio, Giovannini, Luca, Massimetti, Gabriele, Dell'Osso, Liliana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Antidepressant drugs; Antidepressant treatment; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - blood; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Major depression; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Nervous system; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plasma BDNF; Proteins; Psychiatry; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Serum; Serum BDNF; Time Factors; Treatment
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.05.005

Abstract Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been hypothesized to be involved in the neurobiology of major depression. The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationships between depressive symptoms and serum and/or plasma BDNF levels during 1 year of antidepressant treatment. Methods Plasma and serum BDNF levels were assayed in 15 drug-free depressed patients and in 15 healthy control subjects at baseline and the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th month of antidepressant treatment. Results At baseline, patients' serum and plasma BDNF levels were significantly lower ( p < .001 and p = .004, respectively) than those found in healthy control subjects. However, while from the 1st month of treatment patients' plasma BDNF levels did not differ significantly from those observed in healthy control subjects, serum BDNF levels in patients remained significantly lower at all times. Limitations The main limitations of the current study are represented by the small sample size and the high discontinuation rate. Conclusions Untreated depressed patients showed reduced baseline serum and plasma BDNF levels, as compared with control subjects. The clinical improvement paralleled the normalization of plasma BDNF after 1 month of treatment, while, at every assessment time, patients' serum BDNF levels were lower than those of control subjects. This would suggest that serum BDNF might represent a non-specific trait marker of depression.