Association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and von Willebrand factor levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Abstract

BackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin involved in angiogenesis and maintenance of endothelial integrity. Whether circulating BDNF levels are associated with von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels, which are indicators of endothelial dysfunction is not known. This study investigated the association between plasma BNDF and vWF levels and whether these biomarkers could predict cardiovascular events at a 12-month follow-up in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsWe recruited 234 patients with suspected angina pectoris. Subjects were divided into CAD (n = 143) and control (n = 91) groups based on coronary angiography. Plasma BDNF and vWF levels were measured using ELISA. Patients were followed-up for one year, and information on adverse cardiac events was collected.ResultsCAD patients exhibited significantly lower plasma BDNF and higher vWF levels than those of control patients. High vWF levels were associated with low BDNF levels even after adjustment for age, gender, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and the presence of diabetes mellitus. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine whether low BDNF and high vWF levels could predict adverse cardiovascular events. The area under the curve for vWF and the inverse of BDNF were 0.774 and 0.804, respectively.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction is an important determinant of the impaired circulating BDNF levels, and they further reflected cardiovascular prognosis in stable CAD patients.

Involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in exercise‑induced cardioprotection of post-myocardial infarction rats

“…Based on the present results and those of previous studies, we hypothesized that sustained TrkB activation resulted from SS-induced increases in ca ++ levels. The data from the present study suggested that exercise-induced endogenous BDNF possessed greater bioactivity than exogenous BDNF, and confirmed the amplified effect of BDNF within endothelial cells exposed to increased shear force, indicating that endogenous BDNF expression depended on endothelial function in vivo; studies from Jin et al (40) and Prigent-Tessier et al (22) validated these conclusions. Based on these data and previous studies, we hypothesized that exogenous BDNF administration combined with exercise training may assist in alleviating circulatory disturbances in diabetic or hypertensive patients with poor vascular function.…”

Increased von Willebrand factor levels in polycythemia vera and phenotypic differences with essential thrombocythemia

“…High levels of VWF have been shown to be associated with major vascular events in large observational studies of non‐MPN patients at high cardiovascular risk, which is consistent with its role as mediator of platelet adhesion to the subendothelial matrix and subsequent platelet activation . Increased levels of VWF may then sustain both macro‐ and microcirculatory disturbances in PV.…”

“…28,29 All these findings suggest a prevalent activation and degranulation of ECs in PV that may maintain a high release of VWF into the circulation. 30 High levels of VWF have been shown to be associated with major vascular events in large observational studies of non-MPN patients at high cardiovascular risk, [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] which is consistent with its role as mediator of platelet adhesion to the subendothelial matrix and subsequent platelet activation. 38 Increased levels of VWF may then sustain both macro-and microcirculatory disturbances in PV.…”

<p>The Role of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: From the Bench-Top to the Bedside</p>

“…38 Treatment of these co-morbid conditions can possibly increase BDNF levels and improve cognitive deficits. 92…”