title: Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism, or plasma catecholamine metabolites, and response to mirtazapine in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated an association between the polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene Val66Met and the response to mirtazapine in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We also examined mirtazapine's effects on the serum BDNF and plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four patients who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD were treated with only mirtazapine for 4 weeks. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was detected by direct sequencing in the region, and serum BDNF levels and plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites were measured by ELISA and HPLC-ECD, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mirtazapine treatment for 4 weeks significantly increased serum BDNF levels in the responders, whereas nonresponders showed significant decreases. No association was found between either of the two genotypes (Val/Val vs. Met-carriers) and the response to mirtazapine at T4 or the serum BDNF levels at T0. Mirtazapine did not alter the plasma levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) or 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). Discussion The dynamics of serum BDNF levels, but not plasma levels of HVA and MHPG, reflect the response to mirtazapine treatment; the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in patients with depression is, however, associated with neither a particular response to mirtazapine treatment nor baseline serum BDNF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum BDNF levels, but not plasma levels of HVA or MHPG, and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism are related to the mirtazapine response in MDD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsuki
authors.forename: Reiji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Umene-Nakano
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikenouchi-Sugita
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atake
authors.forename: Nakao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010636:Phenols; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002395:Catecholamines; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D010636:Phenols; C034604:4-hydroxyphenethylene glycol; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid