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Cortical BDNF and NTRK2 Transcript Expression in Completed Suicide

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Abstract

Expression of neurotrophin system transcripts will be diminished in suicide compared to other causes of death in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), similar to a prior study. We used publicly available microarray data on 32 postmortem subjects from two cohorts. Covariates selected for inclusion in a logistic regression model included cohort and pH. Neither brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; Wald chisq = 0.00, df=1, p=0.95) nor tyrosine kinase B (NTRK2; Wald chisq = 0.41, df=1, p=0.52) transcript expression were altered in the ACC of subjects with completed suicide compared to other causes of death. In the DLPFC of suicide subjects, no differences in BDNF (Wald chisq = 0.30, df=1, p=0.58) or NTRK2 (Wald chisq = 2.13, df=1, p=0.14) expression were noted. Specific laboratory methods and sampling factors may explain the negative findings. The present data do not exclude the possibility of altered BDNF and NTRK2 expression in completed suicide.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Simon Evans and his colleagues in Michigan and California for their data. Dr. Strauss is supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation.

Interests to declare There are no relevant interests to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurogenetics Section, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 1R8

    J. S. Strauss, V. De Luca & J. L. Kennedy

  2. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    C. J. George

Authors
  1. J. S. Strauss
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  2. V. De Luca
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  3. C. J. George
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  4. J. L. Kennedy
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Correspondence to J. S. Strauss.

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Strauss, J.S., De Luca, V., George, C.J. et al. Cortical BDNF and NTRK2 Transcript Expression in Completed Suicide. Int J Ment Health Addiction 4, 201–204 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-006-9020-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-006-9020-1

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