title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels in patients with Turner syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in neural development and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is known to circulate in plasma and its levels are strictly linked to the sex hormones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the plasma BDNF concentration in patients with Turner syndrome (TS). This is a first of such study in TS women.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 TS patients were enrolled to the study and compared with a control group (10 healthy, ovulatory women). We collected blood for measurement of BDNF plasma concentration, estradiol (E2) and gonadotrophins serum levels. The blood was taken after overnight fasting, in menstruating women in follicular phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that BDNF plasma concentration was significantly higher in the group of TS patients compared to the control group (mean 768.5 ± 194.9 pg/ml versus 407.2 ± 25.7 pg/ml; p < 0.0001). What is more, the BDNF levels in TS were not correlated to E2 levels, whereas in the control group, positive and strong correlation with E2 was found (r = 0.92; p < 0.0001). The testosterone concentration correlated strongly with BDNF levels in TS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we showed for the first time that TS patients has a higher BDNF levels than healthy ones and BDNF is not correlated with E2 concentration but tend to be related to testosterone. This study brings interesting insights to BDNF physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland and.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czyzyk
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casarosa
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podfigurna-Stopa
authors.forename: Blazej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meczekalski
authors.forename: Andrea Riccardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone