title: Increased neurotrophin-3 in drug-free subjects with bipolar disorder during manic and depressive episodes.
abstract: Bipolar disorder (BD) has been increasingly associated with abnormalities in neuroplasticity. Previous studies demonstrated that neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. The influence of medication in these studies has been considered a limitation. Thus, studies with drug-free vs. medicated patients are necessary to evaluate the role of medication in serum NT-3 levels. About 10 manic and 10 depressive drug-free, and 10 manic and 10 depressive medicated patients with BD type I were matched with 20 controls for sex and age. Patients were assessed using SCID-I, YMRS and HDRS. Serum NT-3 levels in drug-free and medicated patients is increased when compared with controls (2.51+/-0.59, 2.56+/-0.44 and 1.97+/-0.33, respectively, p<0.001 for drug-free/medicated vs. control). Serum NT-3 levels do not differ between medicated and drug-free patients. When analyzing patients according to mood states, serum NT-3 levels are increased in both manic and depressive episodes, as compared with controls (2.47+/-0.43, 2.60+/-0.59 and 1.97+/-0.33, respectively, p<0.001 for manic/depressive patients vs. controls). There is no difference in serum BDNF between manic and depressive patients. Results suggest that increased serum NT-3 levels in BD are likely to be associated with the pathophysiology of manic and depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorder Program, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 90035-903 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Brisa Simões
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Clarissa Severino
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: Keila Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ceresér
authors.forename: Gabriel Rodrigo
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Fries
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colpo
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfaffenseller
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kauer-Sant'anna
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D020933:Neurotrophin 3