Increased plasma Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in females with schizophrenia

Cynthia Shannon Weickert; Cynthia H Lee; Rhoshel K Lenroot; Jason Bruggemann; Cherrie Galletly; Dennis Liu; Ryan Balzan; Anilkumar Pillai; Peter Buckley; Thomas W Weickert

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.015

Increased plasma Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in females with schizophrenia

Schizophr Res. 2019 Jul:209:212-217. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.015. Epub 2019 May 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
² School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
³ Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Australia; Ramsay Health Care (SA) Mental Health, Australia.
⁴ Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Australia.
⁵ Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Flinders University, South Australia, Australia.
⁶ Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
⁷ Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA.
⁸ School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA. Electronic address: t.weickert@neura.edu.au.

PMID: 31088701
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.015

Abstract

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) acts as a critical regulator of synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Sex differences have been demonstrated in many aspects of schizophrenia. This study tested for sex-specific differences in peripheral BDNF levels in people with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We measured circulating plasma BDNF levels in 95 people with schizophrenia and 80 healthy controls. Plasma BDNF levels were significantly elevated in females with schizophrenia compared to males with schizophrenia and to female healthy controls. These results suggest that sex differences in peripheral BDNF levels may contribute to other sex related differences in schizophrenia.

Keywords: BDNF; Schizophrenia; Sex differences.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Antipsychotic Agents
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Psychotic Disorders / blood*
Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy
Schizophrenia / blood*
Schizophrenia / drug therapy
Sex Characteristics*
Young Adult

Substances

Antipsychotic Agents
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
BDNF protein, human