title: Agomelatine Increases BDNF Serum Levels in Depressed Patients in Correlation with the Improvement of Depressive Symptoms.
abstract: Agomelatine modulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression via its interaction with melatonergic and serotonergic receptors and has shown promising results in terms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor increase in animal models.
  
  
  
  Twenty-seven patients were started on agomelatine (25mg/d). Venous blood was collected and brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels were measured at baseline and after 2 and 8 weeks along with a clinical assessment, including Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale.
  
  
  
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentration increased after agomelatine treatment. Responders showed a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels after 2 weeks of agomelatine treatment; no difference was observed in nonresponders. Linear regression analysis showed that more prominent brain-derived neurotrophic factor level variation was associated with lower baseline BDNF levels and greater anhedonic features at baseline.
  
  
  
  Patients affected by depressive disorders showed an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentration after a 2-week treatment with agomelatine. The increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels was found to be greater in patients with lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and marked anhedonia at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio). giovanni.martinotti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettorruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Paola Annunziata
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Varasano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucidi Pressanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Remigis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valchera
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Nicola
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biggio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University "G.d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy (Drs Martinotti, De Berardis, and Di Giannantonio); Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy (Drs Pettorruso, Di Nicola, and Janiri); Department of Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine, "G. Mazzini" Hospital, Teramo, Italy (Drs Varasano, Lucidi Pressanti, and De Remigis); Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy (Dr Valchera); Department of Psychiatry, ASL Valle d'Aosta, Italy (Dr Ricci); Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy (Dr Biggio).
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giannantonio
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: BDNF; agomelatine; major depressive disorder