BACKGROUND: The precise mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of autism are currently unknown. Given the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain development, we hypothesized that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. In this study, we studied whether serum levels of BDNF are altered in patients with autism. METHODS: We measured serum levels of BDNF in 18 adult male patients with autism and 18 age-matched healthy male control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of BDNF in patients with autism (25.6+/-2.15 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)) were significantly (z = -4.42, p < 0.001) lower than those of normal controls (61.6+/-10.9 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)). Nevertheless, we found no correlations between BDNF levels and clinical variables in autistic patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that reduced BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.
BACKGROUND: The precise mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of autism are currently unknown. Given the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain development, we hypothesized that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. In this study, we studied whether serum levels of BDNF are altered in patients with autism. METHODS: We measured serum levels of BDNF in 18 adult male patients with autism and 18 age-matched healthy male control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of BDNF in patients with autism (25.6+/-2.15 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)) were significantly (z = -4.42, p < 0.001) lower than those of normal controls (61.6+/-10.9 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)). Nevertheless, we found no correlations between BDNF levels and clinical variables in autisticpatients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that reduced BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.
Authors: T V Khramova; Anna L Kaysheva; Y D Ivanov; T O Pleshakova; I Y Iourov; S G Vorsanova; Y B Yurov; A A Schetkin; A I Archakov Journal: J Mol Neurosci Date: 2017-07-20 Impact factor: 3.444
Authors: Regina Taurines; Monica Segura; Martin Schecklmann; Laura Albantakis; Edna Grünblatt; Susanne Walitza; Thomas Jans; Benjamin Lyttwin; Michael Haberhausen; Frank M Theisen; Berthold Martin; Wolfgang Briegel; Johannes Thome; Christina Schwenck; Marcel Romanos; Manfred Gerlach Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2014-02-06 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Fares Zeidán-Chuliá; José Luiz Rybarczyk-Filho; Alla B Salmina; Ben-Hur Neves de Oliveira; Mami Noda; José Cláudio F Moreira Journal: Neuromolecular Med Date: 2013-03-02 Impact factor: 3.843
Authors: Regina Taurines; Edward Dudley; Alexander C Conner; Julia Grassl; Thomas Jans; Frank Guderian; Claudia Mehler-Wex; Andreas Warnke; Manfred Gerlach; Johannes Thome Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2009-09-27 Impact factor: 5.270