Effect of treatment on serum glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in depressed patients.
Post-mortem studies have demonstrated a decreased number of glia, reduced glial density, and a decreased glia/neuron ratio in different brain areas of patients diagnosed with a major depressive disorder (MDD). Researchers have therefore suggested that neurotrophic growth factor systems might be involved in the aetiology of MDD. This study aimed to test whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a member of the transforming growth factor beta family, in serum was associated with MDD. Serum concentrations were measured in MDD patients before treatment (n=76), after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment (n=39), and in control subjects (n=50) using a sandwich ELISA method. Serum GDNF was significantly lower in MDD patients before treatment than in control subjects (P<0.001). From baseline to remission after 8 weeks of treatment, the increase in serum GDNF was statistically significant (P<0.001). The present study suggests that lower serum GDNF might be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD and antidepressant treatment increases the GDNF in MDD.
Zhang
Xiaobin
X
Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No.87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, PR China, 210009. zhangxiaobim@163.com
Zhang
Zhijun
Z
Xie
Chunming
C
Xi
Guangjun
G
Zhou
Honghui
H
Zhang
Yumei
Y
Sha
Weiwei
W
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor