title: The interplay between BDNF and oxidative stress in chronic schizophrenia.
abstract: Neurodegenerative processes may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the most widely distributed neurotrophin and oxidative stress (OS) may be critical for several pathological manifestations of neurodegenerative disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that both BDNF and OS may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the possible interaction between BDNF and OS has been under-investigated. Serum BDNF, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities were analyzed using established procedures in 164 chronic medicated schizophrenia and 50 healthy controls. Schizophrenic symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) with cognitive and depressive factors derived from the five factor model of the PANSS. Compared to the control group, the patients exhibited a significant decrease in BDNF levels, in the activities of SOD and GSH-Px but a significant increase in MDA levels. In patients, but not in controls, we observed a significant negative correlation between BDNF and SOD. Furthermore, the interaction between BDNF and CAT was associated with the PANSS cognitive factor, and the interaction between BDNF and GSH-Px with the PANSS depressive factor. Both decreased BDNF levels and OS may be implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic schizophrenia. Their inverse association only in the schizophrenia group may reflect a pathological mechanism involving an interaction of oxidative damage and neurotrophin dysfunction. Moreover, OS may interact with the BDNF system to influence the clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, which is line with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harris County Psychiatric Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: xiang.y.zhang@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Xiang Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Da-Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ren
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fu-De
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harris County Psychiatric Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Olaoluwa O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Okusaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harris County Psychiatric Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Giovana B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zunta-Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harris County Psychiatric Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: jair.c.soares@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Jair C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cognition; Interaction; Oxidative stress; Psychopathology; Schizophrenia