Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma concentration in patients diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)

Abstract

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as a cessation of function of ovaries in women younger than 40 years old. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein critically involved in neuronal growth and metabolism. BDNF also has been shown to be important regulator of oocyte maturation. Recent data show that BDNF can be potentially involved in POI pathology. The aim of the study was to assess the BDNF plasma concentrations in patients diagnosed with idiopathic POI. 23 women diagnosed with POI (age 31 ± 7 years) and 18 (age 31 ± 3) controls were included to the study, matched according to age and body mass index. The BDNF concentrations were measured using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hormonal and metabolic parameters were measured in all individuals, in controls in late follicular phase. The POI group demonstrated lower mean plasma concentrations of BDNF (429.25 ± 65.52 pg/ml) in comparison to healthy controls (479.75 ± 34.75 pg/ml, p = 0.0345). The BDNF plasma concentration correlated negatively (R = -0.79, p < 0.001) with number of months since last menstrual period. There was a positive correlation between BDNF and progesterone in controls. In conclusion, POI patients show significantly lower BDNF plasma concentration and it correlates with the duration of amenorrhea. This observation brings important potential insights to the pathology of POI.

The Predictive Value of Serum Progesterone and Estrogen Recepters as Diagnostic Tool for Premature Ovarian Failure

“…The mean value of serum progesterone showed lower significant difference in POI cases when compared with healthy control. The present was in agreement with that reported by Czyzyk, Adam, et al (28) and Bemardi, F., et al (29) . The low serum levels of progesterone and estradiol may be attributed to failure of the ovary to produce them.…”

Dysregulated cytokine profile associated with biochemical premature ovarian insufficiency

“…BDNF, a member of the neurotrophin growth factors family, could promote oocyte maturation and embryo development and was also associated with infertility and endometriosis 29‐32 . Czyzyk et al 33 found lower plasma BDNF level in overt POI patients (FSH > 40 IU/L). Different stage of disease, sample source, and small sample size might explain the data inconsistence.…”

“…Previous studies, with quite smaller sample size, only focused on overt POI patients with FSH > 40 IU/L but not bPOI patients at earlier stage. Moreover, those studies detected cytokines in sera but seldom involving cytokines in follicular fluids 33,45 . In addition, it is generally not the presence or absence of any one cytokine that is responsible for the resultant immune response, rather the collective effect of the “cytokine milieu,” or cytokine microenvironment surrounding the effector cell.…”

TrkB agonist antibody ameliorates fertility deficits in aged and cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure model mice

“…In clinics, POF patients seldom undergo surgery. Here the young (ages [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] and aged (61-64) female groups were used as the high-and low-fertility group respectively. It is generally believed that the follicle number is dramatically reduced after menopause.…”

“…All these phenotypes are very similar to those seen in women with POF 25 . In humans, the plasma level of BDNF is decreased in POF patients 34 . Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) analysis have revealed a genetic association between Bdnf (11p14.1) and POF 35 .…”