Ultradian Variation of Nerve Growth Factor Plasma Levels in Healthy and Schizophrenic Subjects

Bersani, Giuseppe; Iannitelli, Angela; Massoni, E.; Garavini, Alessandra; Grilli, Alfredo; Giannantonio, Massimo Di; Conti, Cristiana; Pancheri, P.

doi:10.1177/039463200401700316

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Regarding plasma ␤ -NGF, our data indicate that ␤ -NGF in schizophrenia patients was significantly lower than in controls (p = 0.037) ( table 2 ). Some reports have found lower plasma ␤ -NGF levels in both first-episode psychotic and medicated chronic schizophrenia patients compared to controls [15,28,29] . Reduced ␤ -NGF in schizophrenia patients could be explained as decreased cholinergic activity in the brain or negative symptoms of schizophrenia [13,29] .…”

Section: Lee /Kimmentioning

confidence: 97%

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 /Kimmentioning

confidence: 97%

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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“…[1][2][3][4][5] NSS also are present in several other psychiatric illnesses, but they are significantly more frequent and severe in schizophrenic patients than in healthy subjects and psychiatric controls. 1,6 -11 Neurologic soft signs in schizophrenia may represent subtle signs of brain pathology, 1,12,13 but the exact brain areas implicated in such dysfunction remain unknown.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurologic Soft Signs in Schizophrenic Patients Treated With Conventional and Atypical Antipsychotics

Bersani¹,

Gherardelli²,

Clemente³

et al. 2005

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology

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Neurologic soft signs (NSS) are considered a somatic feature associated with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) that are present in neuroleptic-treated, as well as untreated or first-episode patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of NSS in groups of schizophrenic patients treated with either a conventional neuroleptic medication, haloperidol (n = 37), or atypical antipsychotic medications, risperidone (n = 19), clozapine (n = 34), and olanzapine (n = 18). NSS were assessed with the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), whereas extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), which occur more commonly with conventional neuroleptic treatment, were evaluated using the Simpson-Angus Scale. NES scores were not significantly different between groups. Slight differences were found for 2 items only. The haloperidol group showed higher scores for the "Romberg test," whereas the clozapine group showed higher scores for "short-term memory." There were significant correlations between EPS and NES total score in the haloperidol and risperidone groups. These results demonstrate an overall overlapping of NSS among the groups, confirming their substantial independence from neurologic implications of neuroleptic treatment.

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“…It was previously reported that serum NGF levels vary significantly during the day and evening hours, following a ‘V shaped’ pattern, being increased in the morning (9 AM) and evening (8 PM) and decreased at 1 PM (Bersani et al, 2004). The levels of another neurotrophin, the brain derived nerve factor (BDNF), were also found to vary following an ultradian rhythm (Raap et al, 2006; Hon et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, a recent study did not concur with these findings (Schulte-Herbrüggen et al, 2007). Serum NGF level was also reported to be increased in the evening (at 8 PM) in healthy individuals (Bersani et al, 2004). However, it is known that systemic levels of NGF can be influenced by a variety of physiological, pathophysiological, neuroendocrine factors, such as gender, stress, psychiatric conditions/status (Levi-Montalcini et al, 1995; Joachim et al, 2007), and may very well be under homeostatic and circadian control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A study of serum concentrations and dermal levels of NGF in atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects

et al. 2011

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Nerve growth factor (NGF) was reported to be increased in the serum and skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, to the extent that serum nerve growth factor levels were proposed to serve as a marker of disease severity. We studied NGF levels in the serum and dermis using skin microdialysis and attempted to correlate them with disease severity. We also examined if potential differences between morning and evening levels of NGF can explain the phenomenon of nocturnal itch. In addition, neurogenic inflammation and itch were induced using histamine iontophoresis in lesional and non-lesional skin and the effect of experimental itch on dermal NGF concentration was examined. We found that systemic (serum) and eczematous skin levels of NGF in AD are significantly lower in comparison to healthy controls. Serum NGF decreases from morning to late afternoon in both groups. Interestingly, serum NGF levels were correlated to disease severity in the morning in AD, although the NGF concentration in AD were significantly lower than in the healthy group. The local itch and neurogenic inflammation induction via experimental histamine reduced local NGF levels in the eczema and non-lesional skin in atopics, but not in the healthy controls, where it was slightly increased. The higher the clinical severity of the eczema, a significantly less pronounced effect of neurogenic inflammation on the local levels of NGF was found. The availability of measurable NGF might be reduced by a higher expression of NGF receptors. The fluctuations of NGF levels during the day suggest a complex modulation of this neurotrophin, potentially linked to stress or to an altered neurophysiological mechanism.

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Ultradian Variation of Nerve Growth Factor Plasma Levels in Healthy and Schizophrenic Subjects

Cited by 19 publications

References 27 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

Neurologic Soft Signs in Schizophrenic Patients Treated With Conventional and Atypical Antipsychotics

A study of serum concentrations and dermal levels of NGF in atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects

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