TY - JOUR
T1 - Short communication
T2 - Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and association with pro-inflammatory cytokines in acute and recovered anorexia nervosa
AU - Keeler, Johanna L.
AU - Patsalos, Olivia
AU - Chung, Raymond
AU - Schmidt, Ulrike
AU - Breen, Gerome
AU - Treasure, Janet
AU - Hubertus, Himmerich
AU - Dalton, Bethan
N1 - Funding Information:
US, GB and JT receive salary support from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience , King's College London (IoPPN, KCL). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR or the UK Department of Health. JK received a PhD stipend from the Medical Research Council (reference number: MR/N013700/1 ). BD was supported by a studentship awarded by the Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (KCL) and the IoPPN, KCL. We thank NIHR BioResource volunteers for their participation, and gratefully acknowledge NIHR BioResource centres, NHS Trusts and staff for their contribution. We thank the NIHR, NHS Blood and Transplant, and Health Data Research UK as part of the Digital Innovation Hub Programme.
Funding Information:
US, GB and JT receive salary support from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London (IoPPN, KCL). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR or the UK Department of Health. JK received a PhD stipend from the Medical Research Council (reference number: MR/N013700/1). BD was supported by a studentship awarded by the Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (KCL) and the IoPPN, KCL. We thank NIHR BioResource volunteers for their participation, and gratefully acknowledge NIHR BioResource centres, NHS Trusts and staff for their contribution. We thank the NIHR, NHS Blood and Transplant, and Health Data Research UK as part of the Digital Innovation Hub Programme.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuroprotective molecule known to be involved in neuroplasticity, learning and memory. Additionally, it may mitigate the effects of inflammation on the brain. There is inconclusive evidence as to whether reductions in BDNF found in AN are related to features associated with the illness such as changes in inflammatory markers and comorbidities, and whether they persist after recovery. This cross-sectional study measured BDNF and 36 inflammatory markers in the serum of individuals recovered from AN (rec-AN; n = 24), with acute AN (n = 56), and healthy controls (n = 51). We (a) compared BDNF concentrations between AN, rec-AN and controls including four pre-determined covariates; (b) assessed the relationship between BDNF and body mass index, eating disorder (ED) psychopathology and depression; and (c) correlated BDNF with inflammatory markers, stratified by group. The AN group showed reductions in BDNF compared to controls and rec-AN. BDNF was negatively associated with depression and ED psychopathology in the whole sample, but not the AN sample. BDNF was positively correlated with three inflammatory markers in the control group (interleukin (IL)-8, Eotaxin-3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and negatively correlated with one (IL-16). The only pro-inflammatory marker associated with BDNF in the AN group was TNF-α, and no pro-inflammatory markers were associated with BDNF in the rec-AN group. These results indicate that BDNF serum concentrations may be a state marker of AN. In people with acute AN, BDNF levels seem to be linked to TNF-α signalling. However, BDNF concentrations do not appear to reflect AN symptom severity.
AB - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuroprotective molecule known to be involved in neuroplasticity, learning and memory. Additionally, it may mitigate the effects of inflammation on the brain. There is inconclusive evidence as to whether reductions in BDNF found in AN are related to features associated with the illness such as changes in inflammatory markers and comorbidities, and whether they persist after recovery. This cross-sectional study measured BDNF and 36 inflammatory markers in the serum of individuals recovered from AN (rec-AN; n = 24), with acute AN (n = 56), and healthy controls (n = 51). We (a) compared BDNF concentrations between AN, rec-AN and controls including four pre-determined covariates; (b) assessed the relationship between BDNF and body mass index, eating disorder (ED) psychopathology and depression; and (c) correlated BDNF with inflammatory markers, stratified by group. The AN group showed reductions in BDNF compared to controls and rec-AN. BDNF was negatively associated with depression and ED psychopathology in the whole sample, but not the AN sample. BDNF was positively correlated with three inflammatory markers in the control group (interleukin (IL)-8, Eotaxin-3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and negatively correlated with one (IL-16). The only pro-inflammatory marker associated with BDNF in the AN group was TNF-α, and no pro-inflammatory markers were associated with BDNF in the rec-AN group. These results indicate that BDNF serum concentrations may be a state marker of AN. In people with acute AN, BDNF levels seem to be linked to TNF-α signalling. However, BDNF concentrations do not appear to reflect AN symptom severity.
KW - Anorexia nervosa
KW - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
KW - Eating disorder
KW - Inflammatory marker
KW - Neurotrophin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127023487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.031
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.031
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85127023487
SN - 0022-3956
VL - 150
SP - 34
EP - 39
JO - Journal of psychiatric research
JF - Journal of psychiatric research
ER -