Relationships between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, plasma catecholamine metabolites, cytokines, cognitive function and clinical symptoms in Japanese patients with chronic schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotic monotherapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Catecholamines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between serum BDNF levels, plasma catecholamine metablolites, cytokines and the cognitive functions of patients with schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotic monotherapy.

METHODS:

One hundred and forty-six patients with schizophrenia and 51 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were examined for peripheral biological markers and neurocognitive test.

RESULTS:

There were positive correlations between serum BDNF levels and scores for verbal memory and attention and processing speed as well as between serum BDNF levels and negative symptoms. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) level and motor function and a positive correlation between the plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) level and attention and processing speed. There were no significant correlations between interleukin-6 or tumour necrosis factor alpha and cognitive function. Moreover, there were no significant correlations between the plasma levels of HVA, MHPG, cytokines and clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Serum BDNF levels are positively related to the impairment of verbal memory and attention, plasma HVA levels are positively related to motor function, and plasma MHPG levels are positively related to attention in patients with schizophrenia.

• Authors: Hikaru Hori, Reiji Yoshimura, Asuka Katsuki, Kiyokazu Atake, Ryohei Igata, Yuki Konishi, Jun Nakamura
• Journal: The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (World J Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 401-408 (08 2017) ISSN: 1814-1412 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27409727 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Biomarkers
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Cytokines
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
• Homovanillic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chronic Disease
• Cognition
• Cytokines (blood)
• Female
• Homovanillic Acid (blood)
• Humans
• Intelligence Tests
• Japan
• Male
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Regression Analysis
• Schizophrenia (blood, drug therapy)
• Schizophrenic Psychology
• Young Adult