Possible role of nerve growth factor in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have raised the possibility that nerve growth factor (NGF) is abnormally regulated in the central nervous system (CNS) of animal models of chronic ethanol treatment. The goals of this study were to determine whether prolonged alcohol consumption is associated with the plasma NGF levels and to assess the effect of a positive family history of alcohol dependence on plasma NGF levels in the alcohol-dependent patients.


METHODS
We used the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the concentrations of peripheral NGF in patients with alcohol dependence and in a control group.


RESULTS
The plasma NGF concentrations in the alcohol-dependent patients were significantly lower than in the controls (71.9 vs 110.5 pg/mL, respectively). Moreover, the alcohol-dependent patients with positive family histories showed a greater decrease in their NGF levels than those subjects with negative family histories (64.7 vs 83.3 pg/mL, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the NGF levels may be a trait marker for the development of alcohol dependence.
Yoon
Su-Jung
SJ
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Roh
Sungwon
S
Lee
Heejin
H
Lee
Ji-Youl
JY
Lee
Bun-Hee
BH
Kim
Yong-Ku
YK
Kim
Dai-Jin
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor