The association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with the diagnosis and treatment response in depression

Matea Nikolac Perkovic; Martin Gredicak; Marina Sagud; Gordana Nedic Erjavec; Suzana Uzun; Nela Pivac

doi:10.1080/14737159.2023.2200937

The association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with the diagnosis and treatment response in depression

Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2023 Apr;23(4):283-296. doi: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2200937. Epub 2023 Apr 14.

Authors

Matea Nikolac Perkovic¹, Martin Gredicak², Marina Sagud^{3

4}, Gordana Nedic Erjavec¹, Suzana Uzun^{4

5}, Nela Pivac^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory for Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
² Polyclinics for Gynecology, General Hospital Zabok and Hospital for the Croatian Veterans, Zabok, Croatia.
³ Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
⁴ School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
⁵ Department for Biological Psychiatry and Psychogeriatry, Clinics for Psychiatry Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia.
⁶ University of Applied Sciences Hrvatsko Zagorje Krapina, Krapina, Croatia.

PMID: 37038358
DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2200937

Abstract

Introduction: Recent evidence from the studies evaluating the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration/levels, BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism, and major depressive disorders, referred as depression, and the association between BDNF levels and/or BDNF Val66Met with the treatment response in depression is presented.

Areas covered: This mini review focuses on the changes in the peripheral BDNF levels in blood (serum, plasma, platelets) in patients with depression before or after treatment with antidepressant drugs or different therapeutic strategies. In addition, this review describes the recent data on the possible association between different antidepressants/therapeutic strategies and the particular BDNF Val66Met genotypes, evaluating the risk alleles associated with the response in patients with depression.

Expert opinion: BDNF has an important role in the pathophysiology and treatment response in depression. Most data reveal that peripheral BDNF levels are lower before than after antidepressant treatment and might be used as potential biomarkers of therapeutic response. Novel therapeutic strategies should target restoring/increasing BDNF levels.

Keywords: BDNF; BDNF Val66Met; antidepressants; depression; treatment response.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / therapeutic use
Depression / diagnosis
Depression / drug therapy
Depression / etiology
Depressive Disorder, Major* / diagnosis
Depressive Disorder, Major* / drug therapy
Depressive Disorder, Major* / genetics
Genotype
Humans
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Substances

Antidepressive Agents
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
BDNF protein, human