title: Possible role of nerve growth factor in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sungwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji-Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bun-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dai-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor