Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Schizophrenia

정신분열병 환자의 혈청에서 Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor 증가

  • Kim, So Youn (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Min, Kyung Joon (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Kee, Baik Seok (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Park, Doo Byung (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Kim, Joo Hee (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University)
  • 김소연 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 민경준 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 기백석 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 박두병 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 김주희 (중앙대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실)
  • Published : 2004.11.30
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Abstract

Objectives:Abnormalities in neurotrophic factors that regulate neuronal development and synaptic plasticity are often implicated as some causes of schizophrenia. In previous studies, researchers reported that brain and serum BDNF levels underwent similar changes during maturation and aging processes in rats. They also found a positive correlation between serum and cortical BDNF levels. In this study, we investigated whether the serum levels of BDNF in Korean schizophrenic patients would be different from those of healthy controls. Methods:Using an ELISA kit, serum BDNF levels were assessed in schizophrenic group(N=49) and control group(N=50). Results:Serum BDNF levels in the schizophrenic group($36.29{\pm}19.78$ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in control group($22.4{\pm}14.4$ng/ml). The BDNF levels did not correlate with duration of treatment, age or daily dose of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions:This result suggests that schizophrenia is characterized by high serum BDNF levels and supports the hypothesis of neurotrophic factor involvement in psychotic disorder. Serum BDNF level is likely to be one of the possible biological markers for schizophrenia.

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