Diagnostic Significance of Serum Levels of Nerve Growth Factor and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

BackgroundOur study aimed to explore the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy participants, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients in order to find their effects on DPN.Material/MethodsThe clinical data of 110 healthy participants (age: 57.3±8.2 year, height: 165.4±5.5 cm, weight: 64.1±7.5 kg), 83 T2DM patients (age: 56.5±7.9 year, height: 164.8±6.2 cm, and weight: 63.6±6.6 kg), and 65 DPN patients (age: 58.2±7.3 year, height: 166.7±6.7 cm, weight: 63.1±5.8 kg) were observed. ELISA was applied to detect serum NGF and BDNF levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic value of serum NGF and BDNF levels in DPN. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze risk factors for DPN.ResultsSerum NGF and BDNF levels decreased most in DPN patients. Subsequently, we determined that serum NGF and BDNF levels were correlated with: the course of disease for patients, fasting C-peptide (FCP), 2-hour postprandial C-peptide level (2-h PCP), glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbAlc), and 24-hour urinary microalbumin excretion (24-h UME). ROC curve analysis identified high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of NGF and BDNF levels on DPN. Serum levels of NGF and BDNF, course of disease, 2-h PCP level, and postprandial blood glucose level were determined to be risk factors for DPN.ConclusionsOur study highlights that serum levels of NGF and BDNF might be associated with the occurrence and development of DPN.

Effect of Mycobacterium leprae on neurotrophins expression in human Schwann cells and mouse sciatic nerves

“…(22) The relevance of BDNF in peripheral nerve injury and neuropathic pain was highlighted in studies on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. (23) The decreased in serum levels of BDNF and NGF has been demonstrated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, suggesting that multiple deficits in these neurotrophic factors could precede clinically the detectable nerve dysfunction. (23) The decreased of cytoplasmic expression and secretion of BDNF in hSC treated with sML could be associ-ated with a declined neurotrophic and immunomodulatory character of hSC, hampering the tissue integrity.…”

“…(23) The decreased in serum levels of BDNF and NGF has been demonstrated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, suggesting that multiple deficits in these neurotrophic factors could precede clinically the detectable nerve dysfunction. (23) The decreased of cytoplasmic expression and secretion of BDNF in hSC treated with sML could be associ-ated with a declined neurotrophic and immunomodulatory character of hSC, hampering the tissue integrity. The neuroprotective role of SC-derived BDNF was demonstrated by Hou et al study, in which BDNF-enriched SC enhanced in vitro its proliferative and secretory functions.…”

“…The relevance of BDNF in peripheral nerve injury and neuropathic pain was highlighted in studies on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. 23 The decreased in serum levels of BDNF and NGF has been demonstrated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, suggesting that multiple deficits in these neurotrophic factors could precede clinically the detectable nerve dysfunction. 23 …”

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Diabetes

“…Serum levels of BDNF in the control group were higher compared to the patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Qin Sun et al revealed that BDNF levels were correlated with the course of disease for patients, fasting C-peptide, 2-hour postprandial C-peptide level, glycosylated hemoglobin level, and 24-hour urinary microalbumin excretion [39].…”

Targeted Mutation (R100W) of the Gene Encoding NGF Leads to Deficits in the Peripheral Sensory Nervous System

“…Nerve growth factor is important for the development and differentiation of sensory neurons during embryogenesis ( Levi-Montalcini, 1987 ; Li et al, 2017 ; Sun et al, 2018 ). Painful signals on the skin were transmited to the spinal cord and brain by myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C sensory nerve fibers ( Adrienne and Dubin, 2010 ).…”