AUTHOR=Yoshimura Reiji , Kishi Taro , Atake Kiyokazu , Katsuki Asuka , Iwata Nakao 

TITLE=Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Plasma Catecholamine Metabolites in People with Major Depression: Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00052

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00052

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<sec id="ST1"><title>Background</title><p>There are complicated interactions between catecholaminergic neurons and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. However, no reports have addressed the relationship among 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), and BDNF in the blood.</p></sec><sec id="ST2"><title>Objective</title><p>This paper sought to investigate correlations between serum BDNF and plasma levels of MHPG and HVA in people with major depression (MD).</p></sec><sec id="ST3"><title>Materials and methods</title><p>A total of 148 patients (male/female 65/83, age 49.5 ± 12.1 years old) who satisfied criteria for MD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV were enrolled in the present study. Plasma levels of MHPG and HVA were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography, and serum BDNF was measured using ELISA.</p></sec><sec id="ST4"><title>Results</title><p>No interactions were observed between plasma HVA levels (mean ± SD = 4.5 ± 1.5 ng/mL) and age, sex, HAMD scores, or serum BDNF levels (mean ± SD = 9.8 ± 2.9 ng/mL). No correlations were not also observed between plasma MHPG levels (mean ± SD = 5.9 ± 2.1 ng/mL) and age, sex, the HAMD17 scores (mean ± SD = 22.2 ± 2.9 ng/mL), or serum BDNF levels. Serum BDNF levels were negatively associated with HAMD17 scores.</p></sec><sec id="ST5"><title>Conclusion</title><p>The results suggest that there are no significant correlations between catecholamine metabolites and BDNF in the blood for MDD patients.</p></sec>