The Meaning of BDNF Level Measured in Blood of Depressed Patients / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important member of the neurotrophic factors, which are critical regulators of the formation and plasticity of neuronal networks. BDNF is abundant in the brain and periphery and it is found in both human serum and plasma. Stressed animals and depressed patients show reduced BDNF expression in the hippocampus and this reduction can be prevented by antidepressant drug treatment. Recent several clinical studies have indicated the decreases of serum or plasma BDNF levels in untreated patients with major depression. These decreases of BDNF can recover after antidepressant treatment. Increasing BDNF after antidepressant treatment could result from improving depressive symptoms, not just from antidepressant treatment. BDNF can play a critical role in the action mechanism of antidepressant treatment. Taken together, major depression may be considered a dysfunction of critical neuronal networks, and the gradual network recovery may induce antidepressant effect. Serum or plasma BDNF levels could indirectly show the above processes of major depression.