title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism and dexamethasone/CRH test results in depressed patients.
abstract: Data suggest that both neurotrophic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) systems are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the non-conservative brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism has an impact on HPA axis activity in depressed patients. At admission, the dexamethasone/CRH (DEX/CRH) test was performed in 187 drug-free in-patients suffering from major depression or depressed state of bipolar disorder (DSM-IV criteria). Moreover, genotyping of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was carried out using the fluorescence resonance energy transfer method (FRET). Homozygous carriers of the Met/Met genotype showed a significantly higher HPA axis activity during the DEX/CRH test than patients carrying the Val/Val or Val/Met genotype (ACTH, cortisol). Our results further contribute to the hypothesized association between HPA axis dysregulation and reduced neuroplasticity in depression and are consistent with the assumption that BDNF is a stress-responsive intercellular messenger modifying HPA axis activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany. Cornelius.Schuele@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schüle
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zill
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Baghai
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eser
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zwanzger
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wenig
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bondy
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone