Changes in mitochondrial function are pivotal in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders: how important is BDNF?
The brain is at the very limit of its energy supply and has evolved specific means of adapting function to energy supply, of which mitochondria form a crucial link. Neurotrophic and inflammatory processes may not only have opposite effects on neuroplasticity, but also involve opposite effects on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic processes, respectively, modulated by stress and glucocorticoids, which also have marked effects on mood. Neurodegenerative processes show marked disorders in oxidative metabolism in key brain areas, sometimes decades before symptoms appear (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases). We argue that brain-derived neurotrophic factor couples activity to changes in respiratory efficiency and these effects may be opposed by inflammatory cytokines, a key factor in neurodegenerative processes.
Department of Pharmacy, Health & Well Being, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK.
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Markham
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Bains
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Franklin
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Spedding
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D063154:Mitochondrial Dynamics / Q000502:physiology; D063269:Mitochondrial Turnover / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002118:Calcium
BDNF; calcium; glucocorticoids; mitochondria; neurodegenerative diseases; neurogenesis; plasticity; psychiatric disorders