Investigation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO),and their neuroprotective effects.Methods Sixty-two patients (49 patients were MS and 13 patients were NMO) and 21 controls were investigated in our studies.The disability severity in MS and NMO patients in their relapse period was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).MRI scanning of brain,spinal cord or optic nerve was examined and the oligoclonal band in serum and CSF were detected.BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum and CSF were assessed by Liquid Assay.Results There were no significant differences of BDNF (μg/L,5.616±0.650 in serum and 0.186±0.012 in CSF of MS patients;6.584±0.929 in serum and 0.176± 0.006 in CSF of NMO patients) and GDNF (μg/L,0.039 in serum and 0.080 in CSF of MS patients;0.029 in serum and 0.050 in CSF of NMO patients) concentrations in serum and CSF in patients with MS and NMO in relapse,compared with those in controls.There was a positive correlation between BDNF and GDNF concentrations in CSF (r=0.756,P=0.000),and a negative correlation between BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum (r=-0.329,P=0.018).There were no correlations of BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum and CSF with EDSS,blood brain barrier index,Delpech index and Tourtellotte synthesis rate.There were no significant differences of BDNF and GDNF concentration in serum and CSF between NMO/MS patients with and without atrophy.Conclusions The level of BDNF in patients with MS and NMO is correlated with that of GDNF,which may have a synergistic neurotrophic effect on MS and NMO.BDNF and GDNF are not associated with the blood-brain harrier destruction and lgG synthesis in central nervous system.However,associations of BDNF and GDNF with functional disability and neuron atrophy in NMO and MS patients still need further studies.