title: Participation of the neutrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric (NP) diseases, but there are few studies involving SLE. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma BDNF levels are associated with disease activity in SLE patients with severe NPSLE and non-NPSLE manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 131 SLE patients and 24 randomly selected healthy individuals. SLE patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional study allocated according to the presence or not of NP manifestations and disease activity: (i) active NPSLE (n = 40), (ii) inactive NPSLE (n = 26), (iii) active SLE (n = 29) and (iv) inactive SLE (n = 36). In addition, NPSLE patients (n = 40) were evaluated before and after treatment. Disease activity was assessed according to the SLEDAI score. The plasma BDNF was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BDNF levels were increased in inactive NPSLE when compared with active SLE and controls (P < 0.0001). We observed similar findings in inactive SLE when compared with active SLE (P < 0.0001). In addition, we found an inverse correlation between plasma BDNF levels and the SLEDAI (r = -0.54, P < 0.0001) and a positive correlation with complement levels. We also observed an increase in BDNF levels in parallel with the improvement in NP symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma BDNF level is increased in SLE patients and this increase is independent of the occurrence of NP manifestations. In addition, plasma BDNF levels increased with control of SLE activity, which points to the potential use of BDNF as a biomarker of response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leticia Faleiros
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Tamashiro
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renê D R
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Regina Comini
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Frota
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Antonio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Donadi
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina Marta
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Del-Ben
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Lucio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Division of Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais and Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. plouzada@fmrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Louzada-Junior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D020945:Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: SLEDAI; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; lupus; neuropsychiatric