BDNF - a probably common pathogenetic factor for schizophrenia and depressive episode

Rinaldo Shishkov; Trifon Chervenkov

doi:10.14748/ssm.v44i2.6558

BDNF - a probably common pathogenetic factor for schizophrenia and depressive episode

Rinaldo Shishkov, Trifon Chervenkov

Abstract

BDNF is a neurotrophic factor synthesized in the central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery. It passes through the brain-blood barrier. Peripheral BDNF can exert a trophic effect in the CNS and different plasma BDNF levels in schizophrenia, depression and bronchial asthma could contribute to negative correlation between these diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess peripheral BDNF levels in these diseases and to relate them to their estimated comorbidity. Plasma BDNF was assessed by immunoassay while disease inci-dence rate and comorbidity was assessed by database retrieval in patients suffering from schizophrenia, depressive episode and bronchial asthma. A lower plasma BDNF level was observed in patients with schizophrenia and depressive episode compared to those suffering from bronchial asthma and a negative comorbidity between diseases was registered. These observations support the important role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and depression and can explain their negative comorbidity with bronchial asthma.

Keywords

BDNF, schizophrenia, depressive episode, bronchial asthma, comorbidity

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14748/ssm.v44i2.6558

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