Low nerve growth factor (NGF) plasma levels in schizophrenic patients: a pilot study

Bersani, Giuseppe; Aloe, Luigi; Iannitelli, Angela; Maselli, Paolo; Venturi, P.; Garavini, Alessandra; Angelucci, Francesco; Bracci-Laudiero, Luisa; Pancheri, P.

doi:10.1016/0920-9964(96)85514-9

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…Regarding NGF, schizophrenia patients are hypothesized to have decreased NGF activity, since postmortem studies reported reduced cholinergic activity in brains of schizophrenia patients [13,14] , and an NGF abnormality may be potentially involved in cognitive deficits. This hypothesis is supported by the finding of lower plasma NGF levels in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls [15] . Furthermore, BDNF and NGF in the brain are reported to contribute to the amount of circulating BDNF and NGF, since these can cross the blood-brain barrier in both directions [16] .…”

Section: Lee /Kimsupporting

confidence: 75%

Increased Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor, Not Nerve Growth Factor-Beta, in Schizophrenia Patients with Better Response to Risperidone Treatment

Lee¹,

Kim

2009

Neuropsychobiology

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Background: Some neurotropins, including brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) or nerve growth factor-β (β-NGF), play important roles in neurodevelopment and neuroprotection. We examined the plasma levels of these 2 factors in schizophrenia patients at the time of admission and after 6 weeks of treatment with risperidone. Methods: Plasma BDNF and β-NGF levels were measured in 36 schizophrenia patients and 36 healthy controls. All the patients underwent 6 weeks of treatment with risperidone. The severity of schizophrenia and response to treatment were assessed with the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). We compared plasma BDNF and β-NGF levels among much-improved (n = 13, 36.1%, ≥50% PANSS score reduction), minimal-improved (n = 15, 41.7%, ≥25% and <50% PANSS score reduction) and nonresponse patients (n = 8, 22.2%, <25% PANSS score reduction). Results: At baseline, plasma BDNF had no significant difference between schizophrenia patients and controls, but β-NGF levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients than controls (p = 0.037). Plasma BDNF and β-NGF in all schizophrenia patients had no significant changes between pre- and posttreatment. Baseline BDNF levels were significantly lower in nonresponse patients than others (p = 0.038). After treatment, much-improved patients had significantly higher plasma BDNF than nonresponse patients (p = 0.023). However, β-NGF levels had no significant differences between them. Conclusions: Our data suggest that higher plasma BDNF levels might be associated with better response to risperidone treatment, while plasma β-NGF levels might have no effect on the clinical response in schizophrenia patients.

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Section: Lee /Kimsupporting

confidence: 75%

Increased Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor, Not Nerve Growth Factor-Beta, in Schizophrenia Patients with Better Response to Risperidone Treatment

Lee¹,

Kim

2009

Neuropsychobiology

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“…The results obtained confirmed the previous findings in animals [16], indicating that HA induces a drastic decrease in circulat ing NGF levels, supporting the hypothesis that sedation lowers the constitutive presence of NGF in human plasma and most probably in the brain as well. In another study [20] we found no significant differences in mean NGF plasma levels in a group of schizophrenic patients from whom two blood samples were taken from a peripheral vein at a 10-min interval. This study suggested that the transient stress induced by blood collection did not affect NGF levels in the blood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haloperidol Administration in Humans Lowers Plasma Nerve Growth Factor Level: Evidence that Sedation Induces Opposite Effects to Arousal

et al. 1997

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Studies reported in recent years have indicated that the level of nerve growth factor (NGF), in both the brain and in the bloodstream, increases following stressful events and anxiety-associated behaviour. These observations prompted us to investigate whether an anti-arousal drug would induce an opposite effect. We have reported that the administration of haloperidol (HA), a neuroleptic drug clinically used for psychiatric disorders, decreases NGF levels in the hypothalamus of adult male mice. In the present study, we showed that HA reduced the basal NGF plasma levels in 8 neuroleptic-free schizophrenic patients. These observations strengthen the hypothesis that NGF may play a functional role in stress-coping responses.

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“…Experiments using animal models indicate that neurotrophins, particularly BDNF, play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders. 54,58,[105][106][107] Human studies showing altered BDNF levels in schizophrenic patients, both in plasma and the CNS, 54,58 suggest that changes in the expression of BDNF might contribute to the disease pathophysiology, one aspect of which is a disturbed capacity for functional plasticity in these individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

BDNF in schizophrenia, depression and corresponding animal models

2005

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Understanding the etiology and pathogenesis schizophrenia and depression is a major challenge facing psychiatry. One hypothesis is that these disorders are secondary to a malfunction of neurotrophic factors. Inappropriate neurotrophic support during brain development could lead to structural disorganisation in which neuronal networks are established in a nonoptimal manner. Inadequate neurotrophic support in adult individuals could ultimately be an underlying mechanism leading to decreased capacity of brain to adaptive changes and increased vulnerability to neurotoxic damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a mediator involved in neuronal survival and plasticity of dopaminergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we summarize findings regarding altered BDNF in schizophrenia and depression and animal models, as well as the effects of antipsychotic and antidepressive treatments on the expression of BDNF. Molecular Psychiatry (2005) 10, 345-352.

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Low nerve growth factor (NGF) plasma levels in schizophrenic patients: a pilot study

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Increased Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor, Not Nerve Growth Factor-Beta, in Schizophrenia Patients with Better Response to Risperidone Treatment

Increased Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor, Not Nerve Growth Factor-Beta, in Schizophrenia Patients with Better Response to Risperidone Treatment

Haloperidol Administration in Humans Lowers Plasma Nerve Growth Factor Level: Evidence that Sedation Induces Opposite Effects to Arousal

BDNF in schizophrenia, depression and corresponding animal models

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