PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Michael Tseng
AU  - Martin Alda
AU  - Li Xu
AU  - Xiujun Sun
AU  - Jun-Feng Wang
AU  - Paul Grof
AU  - Gustavo Turecki
AU  - Guy Rouleau
AU  - L. Trevor Young
TI  - BDNF protein levels are decreased in transformed lymphoblasts from lithium-responsive patients with bipolar disorder
DP  - 2008 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
PG  - 449--453
VI  - 33
IP  - 5
4099  - http://jpn.ca/content/33/5/449.short
4100  - http://jpn.ca/content/33/5/449.full
SO  - JPN2008 Sep 01; 33
AB  - Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key factor in neuroplasticity and has been implicated in the affective disorders; studies have demonstrated elevated BDNF in patients taking lithium and other mood stabilizers. The objective of our study was to analyze BDNF in lithium-responsive patients with bipolar disorder (BD) to further understand the role of BDNF in the pathophysiology of BD.Methods: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured transformed B lymphocytes for BDNF protein.Results: BDNF levels were 36% lower in lymphoblasts from patients with BD (n = 12), compared with matched control participants (n = 13), and 55% lower when compared with their unaffected relatives (n = 14). Lithium significantly decreased BDNF levels in patients with BD and healthy control participants, although BDNF levels remained lower (33%) in the BD group posttreatment.Conclusion: Decreased BDNF may constitute part of the pathophysiologic process of BD in a lithium-responsive subgroup of individuals with this disease. A compensatory mechanism protecting the genetically predisposed unaffected relatives from phenotypic expression of BD is suggested.