Serum protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tropomyosin-related kinase B in bipolar disorder: effects of mood stabilizers.

Abstract

AIM:

In this study, we investigated serum protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in patients with bipolar disorder.

METHODS:

Over a 2-year period, 26 patients with bipolar I disorder (manic episode) and 56 healthy controls were recruited. The Young Mania Rating Scale scores of patients with bipolar mania were >26. Serum BDNF and TrkB protein levels were measured with ELISA kits.

RESULTS:

Using ANCOVA with age adjustment, we found that there were no significant differences in serum BDNF protein levels between patients with bipolar mania and healthy controls (p = 0.582). In contrast, the serum TrkB protein level was significantly higher in bipolar mania patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.001), especially in women (p = 0.001). Of 26 patients with bipolar mania, 21 underwent a second measurement of serum BDNF and TrkB protein levels after a 4-week treatment with mood stabilizers. There were no significant changes in serum BDNF or TrkB protein levels.

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest that serum TrkB protein levels may play an important role in the psychopathology of bipolar mania. However, a larger sample size is needed to confirm these results.

• Authors: Tiao-Lai Huang, Yi-Yung Hung, Chien-Te Lee, Rong-Fu Chen
• Journal: Neuropsychobiology (Neuropsychobiology) Vol. 65 Issue 2 Pg. 65-9 ( 2012) ISSN: 1423-0224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22222435 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antimanic Agents
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Valproic Acid
• Protein Kinases
• tropomyosin kinase
• Lithium Chloride

Topics

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Antimanic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bipolar Disorder (blood, drug therapy)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Lithium Chloride (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Protein Kinases (blood)
• Retrospective Studies
• Valproic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Young Adult