Increased Plasma Levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity of the central and peripheral nervous system. BDNF appears to modulate nociceptive sensory inputs and pain hypersensitivity and has been studied in pathological situations, including chronic pain conditions and major depression. Increased serum BDNF levels have been recently reported in fibromyalgia (FM). In the present study, we assessed plasma BDNF levels in patients with FM and controls. Plasma BDNF was measured from 30 female patients with FM and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched volunteers using an enzyme immunoassay. FM patients showed higher levels of BDNF (FM = 167.1 +/- 171.2 pg/mL) when compared with the control group (control = 113.8 +/- 149.6 pg/mL) (P = 0.049; Mann-Whitney test). Six out of 30 controls presented superior values to the medium (15/15) of the patients with fibromyalgia (129 pg/mL) (P = 0.029, Fisher exact test). There was no correlation between plasma BDNF levels and age, disease duration, pain score, number of pain points and HAM-D score. Our results confirm previous findings of increased plasma BDNF levels in patients with FM, suggesting that BDNF may be involved in the pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia, despite high levels of depression.

Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain: Results of an aquatic physical therapy protocol

“…The BDNF protein participates in the modulation of nociceptive inputs and presents with high blood plasma levels in chronic diseases such as FB (Haas et al 2010). This protein appears to increase as a defense mechanism in painful and stressful situations (Nugraha et al 2012;Leech and Hornby 2017).…”

“…It is postulated that low levels of BDNF are associated with psychological stress through dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thus playing an important role in the pathogenesis of depression and cognition disorders. In relation to FB, the expression of BDNF is known for its importance in synaptic plasticity, and its action as a neuromodulator in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord has been proposed in various models of pain, including peripheral inflammation, axotomy, nerve damage, and neuropathic pain (Haas et al 2010). Moreover, increased serum BDNF levels mediate the disinhibition of motor cortex excitability as well as the function of descending inhibitory pain modulation system, independent of the physiopathology mechanism involved in musculoskeletal pain syndromes (Caumo et al 2016).…”

“…In FB, a disorder of nociceptive impulses, processing occurs and BDNF may be abnormal, as it contributes to the modulation of these inputs (Ranzolin et al 2016). In addition, chronic diseases can cause depression, and some studies suggest that this protein has antidepressant effects and that its abnormalities may be related to the pathogenesis of major depression (Karege et al 2002;Haas et al 2010). Some factors can change the blood levels of this protein, and aerobic exercise can affect it.…”

“…However, the intensity and ideal volume of aerobic exercise that needs to be performed for changes to be detected is unknown (Winkelmann et al 2012). Recently, the role of BDNF in pain states has received more attention as a neuromediator of hyperalgesia and spinal central sensitization (Haas et al 2010).…”

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Potential Biomarkers and Proteomic Approach

“…On the basis of this evidence, Laske and collaborators were the first to evaluate BDNF serum concentrations in fibromyalgia patients, and they found that levels significantly increased compared with healthy controls (Laske et al, 2006). Two different groups found significantly higher levels of BDNF in plasma and in the cerebral spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients than in controls, indicating an involvement of BDNF in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (Haas et al, 2010;Sarchielli et al, 2007). The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate is known to function in pain neuropathways, and it is suspected to play a role in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia.…”