Exercise promotes the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through the action of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate

Elife. 2016 Jun 2:5:e15092. doi: 10.7554/eLife.15092.

Abstract

Exercise induces beneficial responses in the brain, which is accompanied by an increase in BDNF, a trophic factor associated with cognitive improvement and the alleviation of depression and anxiety. However, the exact mechanisms whereby physical exercise produces an induction in brain Bdnf gene expression are not well understood. While pharmacological doses of HDAC inhibitors exert positive effects on Bdnf gene transcription, the inhibitors represent small molecules that do not occur in vivo. Here, we report that an endogenous molecule released after exercise is capable of inducing key promoters of the Mus musculus Bdnf gene. The metabolite β-hydroxybutyrate, which increases after prolonged exercise, induces the activities of Bdnf promoters, particularly promoter I, which is activity-dependent. We have discovered that the action of β-hydroxybutyrate is specifically upon HDAC2 and HDAC3, which act upon selective Bdnf promoters. Moreover, the effects upon hippocampal Bdnf expression were observed after direct ventricular application of β-hydroxybutyrate. Electrophysiological measurements indicate that β-hydroxybutyrate causes an increase in neurotransmitter release, which is dependent upon the TrkB receptor. These results reveal an endogenous mechanism to explain how physical exercise leads to the induction of BDNF.

Keywords: HDAC inhibitors; bdnf; beta hydroxybutyrate; cell biology; epigenetics; mouse; physical exercise.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / metabolism*
  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Histone Deacetylases / chemistry
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Receptor, trkB / metabolism

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Histones
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Receptor, trkB
  • Hdac2 protein, mouse
  • Histone Deacetylase 2
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • histone deacetylase 3
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid