Stability of BDNF in Human Samples Stored Up to 6 Months and Correlations of Serum and EDTA-Plasma Concentrations.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an important neural growth factor, has gained growing interest in neuroscience, but many influencing physiological and analytical aspects still remain unclear. … In this study we assessed the impact of storage time at room temperature, repeated freeze/thaw cycles, and storage at -80 degrees C up to 6 months on serum and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-plasma BDNF. Furthermore, we assessed correlations of serum and plasma BDNF concentrations in two independent sets of samples. Coefficients of variations (CVs) for serum BDNF concentrations were significantly lower than CVs of plasma concentrations (n = 245, p = 0.006). Mean serum and plasma concentrations at all analyzed time points remained within the acceptable change limit of the inter-assay precision as declared by the manufacturer. Serum and plasma BDNF concentrations correlated positively in both sets of samples and at all analyzed time points of the stability assessment (r = 0.455 to rs = 0.596; p < 0.004). In summary, when considering the acceptable change limit, BDNF was stable in serum and in EDTA-plasma up to 6 months. Due to a higher reliability, we suggest favoring serum over EDTA-plasma for future experiments assessing peripheral BDNF concentrations.

Authors: M. Polyakova, H. Schlogl, J. Sacher, M. Schmidt-Kassow, J. Kaiser, M. Stumvoll, J. Kratzsch, M. L. Schroeter

Date Published: 3rd Jun 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Serum BDNF correlates with connectivity in the (pre)motor hub in the aging human brain--a resting-state fMRI pilot study.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been discussed to be involved in plasticity processes in the human brain, in particular during aging. Recently, aging and its (neurodegenerative) diseases … have increasingly been conceptualized as disconnection syndromes. Here, connectivity changes in neural networks (the connectome) are suggested to be the most relevant and characteristic features for such processes or diseases. To further elucidate the impact of aging on neural networks, we investigated the interaction between plasticity processes, brain connectivity, and healthy aging by measuring levels of serum BDNF and resting-state fMRI data in 25 young (mean age 24.8 +/- 2.7 (SD) years) and 23 old healthy participants (mean age, 68.6 +/- 4.1 years). To identify neural hubs most essentially related to serum BDNF, we applied graph theory approaches, namely the new data-driven and parameter-free approach eigenvector centrality (EC) mapping. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between serum BDNF and EC in the premotor and motor cortex in older participants in contrast to young volunteers, where we did not detect any association. This positive relationship between serum BDNF and EC appears to be specific for older adults. Our results might indicate that the amount of physical activity and learning capacities, leading to higher BDNF levels, increases brain connectivity in (pre)motor areas in healthy aging in agreement with rodent animal studies. Pilot results have to be replicated in a larger sample including behavioral data to disentangle the cause for the relationship between BDNF levels and connectivity.

Authors: K. Mueller, K. Arelin, H. E. Moller, J. Sacher, J. Kratzsch, T. Luck, S. Riedel-Heller, A. Villringer, M. L. Schroeter

Date Published: 2nd Feb 2016

Publication Type: Not specified

BDNF as a biomarker for successful treatment of mood disorders: a systematic & quantitative meta-analysis.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is decreased in acute major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) and recovered after treatment. Here we validated on a … meta-analytical level whether BDNF restores differentially according to treatment response and whose measurements could be used as a biomarker, plasma or serum. METHODS: Using strict inclusion criteria, we compared BDNF in healthy controls and patients with MDD (38 studies, n=6619), and BD (17 studies, n=1447). Pre- and post-treatment BDNF levels were meta-analyzed according to treatment response in patients from 21 MDD studies (n=735) and 7 BD studies (n=88). Serum and plasma subgroups were analyzed, publication bias was assessed and heterogeneity was investigated. RESULTS: Serum and plasma BDNF were decreased in acute MDD and BD, and did not differ in euthymia in comparison with control subjects. Antidepressive treatment increased serum BDNF levels in MDD in responders (Cohens d (d)=1.27, p=4.4E-07) and remitters (d=0.89, p=0.01), significantly more than in non-responders (d=0.11, p=0.69). For plasma BDNF in MDD and for BD, the evidence was insufficient for a meta-analysis. Although no significant difference was found between serum and plasma ES, variance of plasma ES was higher. LIMITATIONS: Between-study heterogeneity was explained only partially; signs of publication bias in serum studies. CONCLUSION: Serum BDNF might be regarded as a biomarker for the successful treatment of MDD. Serum measurements seem more reliable than plasma ones. Further research should focus on defining optimal time points for BDNF measurements and increase evidence for the usage of BDNF as a predictive biomarker in BD.

Authors: M. Polyakova, K. Stuke, K. Schuemberg, K. Mueller, P. Schoenknecht, M. L. Schroeter

Date Published: 15th Mar 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: mental depression, bipolar disorder

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