Serum concentrations of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in depressed patients before and after antidepressant treatment.
BACKGROUND
Stress, glucocorticoids and anti-depressant treatment have been found to modulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Recent research suggests that serum BDNF concentration is reduced in depression and that successful antidepressant treatment leads to an increase in serum BDNF concentration.


METHODS
We studied depressed patients receiving a standardized antidepressant treatment with either 150 mg amitriptyline (n=20) or 40 mg paroxetine (n=20) for 36 days in a prospective design. Changes in the concentrations of serum neurotrophins and salivary cortisol in response to antidepressant treatment were assessed.


RESULTS
Independent of clinical efficacy there was a significant 'treatment' by 'medication' interaction effect on BDNF serum concentrations that indicated a decline of BDNF by 12% in paroxetine-treated patients while there was an increase by 13% in amitriptyline-treated patients. Neither antidepressant altered NGF concentrations. The changes in cortisol and neurotrophin concentrations were not related.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in BDNF serum concentrations as a result of antidepressant therapy depend on the antidepressant instead of being a general characteristic of response to antidepressant treatment.
Hellweg
R
R
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. rainer.hellweg@charite.de
Ziegenhorn
A
A
Heuser
I
I
Deuschle
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D000639:Amitriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D006854:Hydrocortisone