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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene variation influences cerebrospinal fluid 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol concentrations in healthy volunteers

  • Biological Psychiatry - Original Article
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Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to influence monoamine transmitter synthesis, metabolism and release. We investigated possible relationships between four BDNF gene polymorphisms and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in healthy volunteers (n = 132). All BDNF polymorphisms (270 C/T, −633 T/A, Val66Met, and 11757 G/C) were associated with MHPG (P < 0.02), but not with 5-HIAA and HVA concentrations. At a second clinical investigation 8–20 years after CSF sampling 30% of the subjects had experienced various psychiatric disorders. Development of a psychiatric disorder was predicted by low 5-HIAA concentrations (P = 0.01). The results suggest that BDNF gene variation participates in regulation of norepinephrine turnover rates in the central nervous system of human subjects.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (K2007-62X-15077-04-1, K2007-62X-15078-04-3, K2008-62P-20597-01-3), the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research between Stockholm County Council and the Karolinska Institute, Wallenberg Foundation, and the HUBIN project. We thank Alexandra Tylec, Monica Hellberg, and Kjerstin Lind for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, HUBIN Project, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, R5:00, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden

    Erik G. Jönsson, Peter Saetre, Bodil Edman-Ahlbom, Anna Sillén, Agneta Gunnar, Dimitrios Andreou, Ingrid Agartz, Göran Sedvall, Håkan Hall & Lars Terenius

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Section Vinderen and Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Ingrid Agartz

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  1. Erik G. Jönsson
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  2. Peter Saetre
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  3. Bodil Edman-Ahlbom
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  4. Anna Sillén
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  5. Agneta Gunnar
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  6. Dimitrios Andreou
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  7. Ingrid Agartz
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  8. Göran Sedvall
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  9. Håkan Hall
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  10. Lars Terenius
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Correspondence to Erik G. Jönsson.

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Jönsson, E.G., Saetre, P., Edman-Ahlbom, B. et al. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene variation influences cerebrospinal fluid 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol concentrations in healthy volunteers. J Neural Transm 115, 1695–1699 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-008-0113-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-008-0113-9

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