title: Circulating Glial-derived neurotrophic factor is reduced in late-life depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is part of the TGF-β superfamily and is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system. Changes in GDNF homeostasis have been reported in affective disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess serum GDNF concentration in elderly subjects with late-life depression, before antidepressant treatment, as compared to healthy elderly controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four elderly subjects with major depression and 37 age and gender-matched healthy elderly controls were included in this study. Diagnosis of major depression was ascertained by the SCID interview for DSM-IV and the severity of depressive symptoms was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21). Serum GDNF concentration were determined by sandwich ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with major depression showed a significant reduction in GDNF levels as compared to healthy elderly controls (p < 0.001). Also, GDNF level was negatively correlated with HDRS-21 scores (r = -0.343, p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide evidence that GDNF may be a state marker of depressive episode in older adults. Changes in the homeostatic control of GDNF production may be a target to development of new antidepressant strategies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM 27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 3rd floor, 05403-010-São Paulo, SP, Brazil. brenosatler@usp.br
authors.forename: Breno S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Aline S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Leda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Talib
authors.forename: Wagner F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gattaz
authors.forename: Orestes V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Forlenza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor