Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis

Tseng, Ping‐Tao; Cheng, Yu‐Shian; Chen, Yen‐Wen; Wu, Ching-Kuan; Lin, Pao‐Yen

doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.06.001

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Lee and Kim (58) reported enhanced plasma VEGF levels in patients with major depressive disorder prior to antidepressant treatment, suggesting that VEGF plasma levels could be used as a biomarker of depression. Similar results were identified in a recent study by Tseng et al (59) based on a meta-analysis involving 16 articles. In contrast, Dome et al (60) and Ventriglia et al (61) found no difference in serum VEGF levels prior to and following antidepressant treatment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Similarly to results in the brain structures, DMI and TIA induced opposite effects, DMI increased serum VEGF levels compared with saline-treated stressed rats, whereas TIA reduced VEGF levels compared with saline-treated unstressed control rats. The results of clinical studies concerning plasma VEGF levels in depressed patients are inconsistent (56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61). Lee and Kim (58) reported enhanced plasma VEGF levels in patients with major depressive disorder prior to antidepressant treatment, suggesting that VEGF plasma levels could be used as a biomarker of depression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Alterations in VEGF expression induced by antidepressant drugs in female rats under chronic social stress

Nowacka-Chmielewska

Paul-Samojedny

Bielecka-Wajdman

et al. 2017

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to serve a role in neurogenesis and the stress response. Although a definite link between the action of antidepressants and VEGF has not been identified, it is assumed that VEGF, as a neurotrophic factor, serves an important role in the effects of antidepressant treatment. To examine this, the present study subjected adult female rats to four weeks of social instability stress and measured the effect of antidepressant treatment on the expression of VEGF. Firstly, endocrine markers of stress and body weight were measured in parallel with behavioral tests prior to and following subjection to stress. Then, the effect of 28-day daily treatment with desipramine (DMI; 10 mg/kg), fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) or tianeptine (10 mg/kg) on the number of copies of VEGF mRNA in the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, and on serum VEGF protein levels, of rats subjected to chronic stress was determined. In addition, the weight of the adrenal glands was measured following subjection to stress. Exposure to chronic stress was found to increase the rats' sucrose preference, and diminish their tendency for general exploration and time spent in the open. The relative adrenal weights of the stressed rats were significantly increased compared with the control. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone were not significantly augmented. In addition, the present study identified that stress elevated VEGF mRNA expression in all studied neural structures. Furthermore, the results identified that the stress-induced increase in VEGF mRNA expression in the amygdala and hypothalamus was attenuated by long-term administration of DMI. Conversely, a decrease in serum VEGF concentration was observed in stressed rats, which was not reversed by treatment with antidepressants. In conclusion, the current study suggests that under conditions of stress, VEGF serves a role in the mechanism of action of DMI, through modulating activity of the norepinephrine system.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Alterations in VEGF expression induced by antidepressant drugs in female rats under chronic social stress

Nowacka-Chmielewska

Paul-Samojedny

Bielecka-Wajdman

et al. 2017

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

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“…Recent studies using a multimodal biomarker approach have indicated relationships between depression, WMHs, and abnormalities in biomarkers related to inflammatory processes, including higher TNF receptor-2 and IL-1β levels, endothelial dysfunction, astrocytic abnormalities, platelet activation, control of blood clotting processes, lipid homeostasis, and reduced neurotrophic support, indicating the relevance of vascular disease and other factors in the pathogenesis of LLD [157–165]. Non-vascular factors may also contribute to VaDep.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vascular depression consensus report – a critical update

Aizenstein

Baskys

Boldrini

et al. 2016

BMC Med

180

123

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BackgroundVascular depression is regarded as a subtype of late-life depression characterized by a distinct clinical presentation and an association with cerebrovascular damage. Although the term is commonly used in research settings, widely accepted diagnostic criteria are lacking and vascular depression is absent from formal psychiatric manuals such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition – a fact that limits its use in clinical settings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, showing a variety of cerebrovascular lesions, including extensive white matter hyperintensities, subcortical microvascular lesions, lacunes, and microinfarcts, in patients with late life depression, led to the introduction of the term “MRI-defined vascular depression”.DiscussionThis diagnosis, based on clinical and MRI findings, suggests that vascular lesions lead to depression by disruption of frontal–subcortical–limbic networks involved in mood regulation. However, despite multiple MRI approaches to shed light on the spatiotemporal structural changes associated with late life depression, the causal relationship between brain changes, related lesions, and late life depression remains controversial. While postmortem studies of elderly persons who died from suicide revealed lacunes, small vessel, and Alzheimer-related pathologies, recent autopsy data challenged the role of these lesions in the pathogenesis of vascular depression. Current data propose that the vascular depression connotation should be reserved for depressed older patients with vascular pathology and evident cerebral involvement. Based on current knowledge, the correlations between intra vitam neuroimaging findings and their postmortem validity as well as the role of peripheral markers of vascular disease in late life depression are discussed.ConclusionThe multifold pathogenesis of vascular depression as a possible subtype of late life depression needs further elucidation. There is a need for correlative clinical, intra vitam structural and functional MRI as well as postmortem MRI and neuropathological studies in order to confirm the relationship between clinical symptomatology and changes in specific brain regions related to depression. To elucidate the causal relationship between regional vascular brain changes and vascular depression, animal models could be helpful. Current treatment options include a combination of vasoactive drugs and antidepressants, but the outcomes are still unsatisfying.

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“…41,141 VEGF differences between patients and controls are larger in studies assessing younger samples, while gender, BMI and clinical factors did not affect these comparisons at a meta-analytic level. 77 However, the lack of adjustment for BMI in previous examinations of inflammation and depression appears to confound highly significant differences reported between these groups. 41 Enlarged adipose tissue has been definitively demonstrated to stimulate cytokine production as well as being closely linked to metabolic markers.…”

Section: Age Gender and Bmimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…75 Despite inconsistent evidence, two meta-analyses have recently indicated elevations of VEGF in blood of depressed patients compared to controls (across 16 studies; P,0.001). 76,77 However, low VEGF has been identified in TRD 78 and higher levels have predicted nonresponse to antidepressant treatment. 79 It is not understood why the levels of VEGF protein would be elevated, but it may partly be attributable to proinflammatory activity and/or increases in blood-brain barrier permeability in depressed states that causes reduced expression in cerebrospinal fluid.…”

Section: Growth Factor Findings In Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers for Depression: Recent Insights, Current Challenges and Future Prospects

Strawbridge¹,

Young

Cleare³

2018

FOC

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A plethora of research has implicated hundreds of putative biomarkers for depression, but has not yet fully elucidated their roles in depressive illness or established what is abnormal in which patients and how biologic information can be used to enhance diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This lack of progress is partially due to the nature and heterogeneity of depression, in conjunction with methodological heterogeneity within the research literature and the large array of biomarkers with potential, the expression of which often varies according to many factors. We review the available literature, which indicates that markers involved in inflammatory, neurotrophic and metabolic processes, as well as neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine system components, represent highly promising candidates. These may be measured through genetic and epigenetic, transcriptomic and proteomic, metabolomic and neuroimaging assessments. The use of novel approaches and systematic research programs is now required to determine whether, and which, biomarkers can be used to predict response to treatment, stratify patients to specific treatments and develop targets for new interventions. We conclude that there is much promise for reducing the burden of depression through further developing and expanding these research avenues.

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Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis

Cited by 45 publications

References 52 publications

Alterations in VEGF expression induced by antidepressant drugs in female rats under chronic social stress

Alterations in VEGF expression induced by antidepressant drugs in female rats under chronic social stress

Vascular depression consensus report – a critical update

Biomarkers for Depression: Recent Insights, Current Challenges and Future Prospects

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