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Arias JA, Williams C, Raghvani R, Aghajani M, Baez S, Belzung C, Booij L, Busatto G, Chiarella J, Fu CH, Ibanez A, Liddell BJ, Lowe L, Penninx BWJH, Rosa P, Kemp AH. The neuroscience of sadness: A multidisciplinary synthesis and collaborative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 111:199-228. [PMID: 32001274 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sadness is typically characterized by raised inner eyebrows, lowered corners of the mouth, reduced walking speed, and slumped posture. Ancient subcortical circuitry provides a neuroanatomical foundation, extending from dorsal periaqueductal grey to subgenual anterior cingulate, the latter of which is now a treatment target in disorders of sadness. Electrophysiological studies further emphasize a role for reduced left relative to right frontal asymmetry in sadness, underpinning interest in the transcranial stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as an antidepressant target. Neuroimaging studies - including meta-analyses - indicate that sadness is associated with reduced cortical activation, which may contribute to reduced parasympathetic inhibitory control over medullary cardioacceleratory circuits. Reduced cardiac control may - in part - contribute to epidemiological reports of reduced life expectancy in affective disorders, effects equivalent to heavy smoking. We suggest that the field may be moving toward a theoretical consensus, in which different models relating to basic emotion theory and psychological constructionism may be considered as complementary, working at different levels of the phylogenetic hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A Arias
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, United Kingdom; Department of Statistics, Mathematical Analysis, and Operational Research, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Claire Williams
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, United Kingdom
| | - Rashmi Raghvani
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, United Kingdom
| | - Moji Aghajani
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, GGZ InGeest Research & Innovation, Amsterdam Neuroscience, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University Montreal, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Julian Chiarella
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University Montreal, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cynthia Hy Fu
- School of Psychology, University of East London, United Kingdom; Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Agustin Ibanez
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile; Universidad Autonoma del Caribe, Barranquilla, Colombia; Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Australian Research Council (ARC), New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Leroy Lowe
- Neuroqualia (NGO), Turo, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Brenda W J H Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, GGZ InGeest Research & Innovation, Amsterdam Neuroscience, the Netherlands
| | - Pedro Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrew H Kemp
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Discipline of Psychiatry, and School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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2
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Loewenstern J, You X, Merchant J, Gordon EM, Stollstorff M, Devaney J, Vaidya CJ. Interactive effect of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphisms on amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity and anxiety. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 285:1-8. [PMID: 30711709 PMCID: PMC6699775 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms have been associated with risk for affective disorders and functional variability of the amygdala. We examined whether the two genotypes interactively influence intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) of the amygdala and whether FC mediates the genetic association with anxiety. Eighty genotyped healthy adults underwent resting state fMRI and completed the self-reported State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Interactive genetic association with anxiety was observed such that effects of 5-HTTLPR depended on the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265 variant), with higher anxiety scores in short and Met carriers compared to the other allelic groups. Voxel-wise FC with left and right amygdala seeds identified regions that were sensitive to variability in anxiety scores. A significant moderated mediation model demonstrated that the effect of 5-HTTLPR genotype on anxiety, moderated by BDNF Val66Met genotype, was fully mediated by FC between the left amygdala and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a cognitive control-related region, during a task-free state. FC was highest in carriers of the 5-HTTLPR short allele and BDNF Met allele. These findings establish intrinsic amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity as a potential intermediate phenotype for anxiety, an important step toward identification of causal pathways for vulnerability to affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Loewenstern
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Xiaozhen You
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States; Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Junaid Merchant
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Evan M Gordon
- VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, TX, United States; Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Melanie Stollstorff
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Joseph Devaney
- Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Chandan J Vaidya
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 306 White-Gravenor, Washington, DC 20057, United States; Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States.
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3
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Young DA, Chao L, Neylan TC, O'Donovan A, Metzler TJ, Inslicht SS. Association among anterior cingulate cortex volume, psychophysiological response, and PTSD diagnosis in a Veteran sample. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:189-196. [PMID: 30086395 PMCID: PMC6361720 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with fear response system dysregulation. Research has shown that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may modulate the fear response and that individuals with PTSD have abnormalities in ACC structure and functioning. Our objective was to assess whether ACC volume moderates the relationship between PTSD and fear-potentiated psychophysiological response in a sample of Gulf War Veterans. 142 Veteran participants who were associated with a larger study associated with Gulf War Illness were exposed to no threat, ambiguous threat, and high threat conditions in a fear conditioned startle response paradigm and also provided MRI imaging data. PTSD was assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Decreased caudal ACC volume predicted greater psychophysiological responses with a slower habituation of psychophysiological magnitudes across trials (p < 0.001). PTSD diagnosis interacted significantly with both caudal and rostral ACC volumes on psychophysiological response magnitudes, where participants with PTSD and smaller rostral and caudal ACC volumes had greater psychophysiological magnitudes across trials (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) and threat conditions (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005). Our results suggest that ACC volume may moderate both threat sensitivity and threat response via impaired habituation in individuals who have been exposed to traumatic events. More research is needed to assess whether ACC size and these associated response patterns are due to neurological processes resulting from trauma exposure or if they are indicative of a premorbid risk for PTSD subsequent to trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri A Young
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States.
| | - Linda Chao
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Aoife O'Donovan
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Thomas J Metzler
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Sabra S Inslicht
- San Francisco VA Health Care System, 4150 Clement St. (116P), San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), The Veterans Health Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
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Han KM, Choi S, Kim A, Kang J, Won E, Tae WS, Kim YK, Lee MS, Ham BJ. The effects of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms on neurostructural changes in major depressive disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2018; 273:25-34. [PMID: 29414128 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism have been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to investigate the effects of genetic variants of the 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms and their interactions with MDD on cortical volume and white matter integrity. Ninety-five patients with MDD and 65 healthy participants aged 20-65 years were recruited. The subjects were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms and scanned with T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging. The gray matter volumes of 24 gyri in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices and the fractional anisotropy values of nine white matter tracts in both hemispheres were determined. In the pooled sample of subjects from both groups, 5-HTTLPR L-allele carriers had significantly decreased cortical volume in the right anterior midcingulate gyrus compared to S-allele homozygotes. A significant effect of the interaction of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and MDD on the fractional anisotropy values of the right uncinate fasciculus was observed. Our results suggested that these genetic polymorphisms play important roles in the neurostructural changes of emotion-processing regions in subjects with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Man Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunyoung Choi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aram Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - June Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsoo Won
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Suk Tae
- Brain Convergence Research Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Ku Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Soo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Joo Ham
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Brain Convergence Research Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Klein M, van Donkelaar M, Verhoef E, Franke B. Imaging genetics in neurodevelopmental psychopathology. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2017; 174:485-537. [PMID: 29984470 PMCID: PMC7170264 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are defined by highly heritable problems during development and brain growth. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID) are frequent neurodevelopmental disorders, with common comorbidity among them. Imaging genetics studies on the role of disease-linked genetic variants on brain structure and function have been performed to unravel the etiology of these disorders. Here, we reviewed imaging genetics literature on these disorders attempting to understand the mechanisms of individual disorders and their clinical overlap. For ADHD and ASD, we selected replicated candidate genes implicated through common genetic variants. For ID, which is mainly caused by rare variants, we included genes for relatively frequent forms of ID occurring comorbid with ADHD or ASD. We reviewed case-control studies and studies of risk variants in healthy individuals. Imaging genetics studies for ADHD were retrieved for SLC6A3/DAT1, DRD2, DRD4, NOS1, and SLC6A4/5HTT. For ASD, studies on CNTNAP2, MET, OXTR, and SLC6A4/5HTT were found. For ID, we reviewed the genes FMR1, TSC1 and TSC2, NF1, and MECP2. Alterations in brain volume, activity, and connectivity were observed. Several findings were consistent across studies, implicating, for example, SLC6A4/5HTT in brain activation and functional connectivity related to emotion regulation. However, many studies had small sample sizes, and hypothesis-based, brain region-specific studies were common. Results from available studies confirm that imaging genetics can provide insight into the link between genes, disease-related behavior, and the brain. However, the field is still in its early stages, and conclusions about shared mechanisms cannot yet be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Klein
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein van Donkelaar
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Verhoef
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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6
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Perez-Rodriguez MM, New AS, Goldstein KE, Rosell D, Yuan Q, Zhou Z, Hodgkinson C, Goldman D, Siever LJ, Hazlett EA. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met genotype modulates amygdala habituation. Psychiatry Res 2017; 263:85-92. [PMID: 28371657 PMCID: PMC5856456 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A deficit in amygdala habituation to repeated emotional stimuli may be an endophenotype of disorders characterized by emotion dysregulation, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). Amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli is genetically modulated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) variants. Whether amygdala habituation itself is also modulated by BDNF genotypes remains unknown. We used imaging-genetics to examine the effect of BDNF Val66Met genotypes on amygdala habituation to repeated emotional stimuli. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 57 subjects (19 BPD patients, 18 patients with schizotypal personality disorder [SPD] and 20 healthy controls [HC]) during a task involving viewing of unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant pictures, each presented twice to measure habituation. Amygdala responses across genotypes (Val66Met SNP Met allele-carriers vs. Non-Met carriers) and diagnoses (HC, BPD, SPD) were examined with ANOVA. The BDNF 66Met allele was significantly associated with a deficit in amygdala habituation, particularly for emotional pictures. The association of the 66Met allele with a deficit in habituation to unpleasant emotional pictures remained significant in the subsample of BPD patients. Using imaging-genetics, we found preliminary evidence that deficient amygdala habituation may be modulated by BDNF genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; CIBERSAM, Autonoma University, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz and Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Antonia S New
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Kim E Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel Rosell
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Qiaoping Yuan
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9412, USA
| | - Zhifeng Zhou
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9412, USA
| | - Colin Hodgkinson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9412, USA
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9412, USA
| | - Larry J Siever
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Erin A Hazlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
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7
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Raab K, Kirsch P, Mier D. Understanding the impact of 5-HTTLPR, antidepressants, and acute tryptophan depletion on brain activation during facial emotion processing: A review of the imaging literature. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:176-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Toffoletto S, Lanzenberger R, Gingnell M, Sundström-Poromaa I, Comasco E. Emotional and cognitive functional imaging of estrogen and progesterone effects in the female human brain: a systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2014; 50:28-52. [PMID: 25222701 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian hormones are pivotal for the physiological maintenance of the brain function as well as its response to environmental stimuli. There is mounting evidence attesting the relevance of endogenous ovarian hormones as well as exogenous estradiol and progesterone for emotional and cognitive processing. The present review systematically summarized current knowledge on sex steroid hormonal modulation of neural substrates of emotion and cognition revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-four studies of healthy naturally cycling and combined oral contraceptives (COC) user women, or women undergoing experimental manipulations, during their reproductive age, were included. Furthermore, six studies of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a hormonally based mood disorder, and three of gender dysphoria (GD), which provides an intriguing opportunity to examine the effect of high-dose cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) on brain functioning, were included. Globally, low (early follicular and the entire follicular phase for estrogen and progesterone, respectively) and high (COC, CSHT, late follicular and luteal phase for estrogen; COC, mid- and late-luteal phase for progesterone) hormonal milieu diversely affected the response of several brain regions including the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and inferior frontal gyrus, but their functional recruitment across groups and domains was scattered. The constellation of findings provides initial evidence of the influence of sex steroid hormones on cortical and subcortical regions implicated in emotional and cognitive processing. Further well-powered and multimodal neuroimaging studies will be needed to identify the neural mechanism of functional brain alterations induced by sex steroid hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Malin Gingnell
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Women's & Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Outhred T, Das P, Dobson-Stone C, Felmingham KL, Bryant RA, Nathan PJ, Malhi GS, Kemp AH. The impact of 5-HTTLPR on acute serotonin transporter blockade by escitalopram on emotion processing: preliminary findings from a randomised, crossover fMRI study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2014; 48:1115-25. [PMID: 24810870 DOI: 10.1177/0004867414533837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Benefit from antidepressant treatment such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may depend on individual differences in acute effects on neural emotion processing. The short ('S') allele of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT)-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is associated with both negative emotion processing biases and poorer treatment outcomes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the effects of 5-HTTLPR on the impact of the SSRI escitalopram during processing of positive and negative emotional images, as well as neutral stimuli. METHODS The study employed a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover design on 36 healthy Caucasian female participants who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning following placebo or escitalopram treatment, separated by a 7-day washout period. RESULTS Changes in the left amygdala signal with escitalopram treatment during processing of emotional stimuli were linearly related to the 5-HTTLPR 'S' allele load such that the signal to positive stimuli decreased and the signal to negative stimuli increased with an increasing number of low-expressing 'S' alleles. While 5-HTTLPR subgroups were small in size, individual subject changes with treatment and task condition increase confidence in the findings. CONCLUSIONS While preliminary, our findings comprise the first pharmacogenetic study demonstrating an effect of the 5-HTTLPR 'S' allele load on escitalopram-induced changes in amygdala activity during emotional processing, consistent with a 5-HTT expression dosage model. The present findings have implications for the impact of this polymorphism on antidepressant efficacy in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Outhred
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia SCAN Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pritha Das
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia Advanced Research and Clinical Highfield Imaging (ARCHI), University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia
| | - Carol Dobson-Stone
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | | | - Richard A Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Pradeep J Nathan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Gin S Malhi
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia Advanced Research and Clinical Highfield Imaging (ARCHI), University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia
| | - Andrew H Kemp
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia SCAN Research and Teaching Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia Advanced Research and Clinical Highfield Imaging (ARCHI), University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Fisher PM, Holst KK, Adamsen D, Klein AB, Frokjaer VG, Jensen PS, Svarer C, Gillings N, Baare WFC, Mikkelsen JD, Knudsen GM. BDNF Val66met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms predict a human in vivo marker for brain serotonin levels. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 36:313-23. [PMID: 25220079 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in multiple aspects of brain function including regulation of serotonin signaling. The BDNF val66met polymorphism (rs6265) has been linked to aspects of serotonin signaling in humans but its effects are not well understood. To address this, we evaluated whether BDNF val66met was predictive of a putative marker of brain serotonin levels, serotonin 4 receptor (5-HT4 ) binding assessed with [11C]SB207145 positron emission tomography, which has also been associated with the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism. We applied a linear latent variable model (LVM) using regional 5-HT4 binding values (neocortex, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, and putamen) from 68 healthy humans, allowing us to explicitly model brain-wide and region-specific genotype effects on 5-HT4 binding. Our data supported an LVM wherein BDNF val66met significantly predicted a LV reflecting [11C]SB207145 binding across regions (P = 0.005). BDNF val66met met-carriers showed 2-9% higher binding relative to val/val homozygotes. In contrast, 5-HTTLPR did not predict the LV but S-carriers showed 7% lower neocortical binding relative to LL homozygotes (P = 7.3 × 10(-6)). We observed no evidence for genetic interaction. Our findings indicate that BDNF val66met significantly predicts a common regulator of brain [11C]SB207145 binding, which we hypothesize reflects brain serotonin levels. In contrast, our data indicate that 5-HTTLPR specifically affects 5-HT4 binding in the neocortex. These findings implicate serotonin signaling as an important molecular mediator underlying the effects of BDNF val66met and 5-HTTLPR on behavior and related risk for neuropsychiatric illness in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Fisher
- Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen O, Denmark; Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen O, Denmark
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Epigenetic and epistatic interactions between serotonin transporter and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphism: insights in depression. Neuroscience 2014; 275:455-68. [PMID: 24972302 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown significant results in the interaction between the functions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and 5-HT in mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). The latest research has provided convincing evidence that gene transcription of these molecules is a target for epigenetic changes, triggered by stressful stimuli that starts in early childhood and continues throughout life, which are subsequently translated into structural and functional phenotypes culminating in depressive disorders. The short variants of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF-Met are seen as forms which are predisposed to epigenetic aberrations, which leads individuals to a susceptibility to environmental adversities, especially when subjected to stress in early life. Moreover, the polymorphic variants also feature epistatic interactions in directing the functional mechanisms elicited by stress and underlying the onset of depressive disorders. Also emphasized are works which show some mediators between stress and epigenetic changes of the 5-HTT and BDNF genes, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which is a cellular transcription factor. Both the HPA axis and CREB are also involved in epistatic interactions between polymorphic variants of 5-HTTLPR and Val66Met. This review highlights some research studying changes in the epigenetic patterns intrinsic to genes of 5-HTT and BDNF, which are related to lifelong environmental adversities, which in turn increases the risks of developing MDD.
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Bredemeier K, Beevers CG, McGeary JE. Serotonin transporter and BDNF polymorphisms interact to predict trait worry. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2014; 27:712-21. [PMID: 24679122 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2014.909928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Excessive worry is associated with a range of psychological disorders. While previous studies have examined genes associated with a range of different anxiety phenotypes, none have explored genes specifically associated with the general tendency to worry. DESIGN The present study tested associations between trait worry and functional polymorphisms of three candidate genes: the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) of the SLC6A4 gene, the Val66Met region of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, and the Val158Met region of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. METHODS A heterogeneous sample of adult participants (n=173) completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and provided DNA samples for genotyping. RESULTS Results revealed a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR and BDNF genotypes predicting levels of worry. Specifically, there was a significant positive association between 5-HTTLPR short alleles and PSWQ scores, but only in BDNF met allele carriers. COMT genotype was not significantly associated levels of worry, nor did COMT interact with 5-HTTLPR or BDNF genotypes to predict PSWQ scores. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide preliminary evidence about the putative genetic etiology of worrying. Key limitations of the present study and corresponding directions for future research on this topic are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Bredemeier
- a Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Providence , RI , USA
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Verhagen M, van Roekel E, Engels RCME. Involvement of the BDNF gene in loneliness in adolescence: a report of opposite gene effects in boys and girls. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92768. [PMID: 24647525 PMCID: PMC3960275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that loneliness has a heritable component and that genes within the serotonin-, dopamine-, and oxytocin systems are related to loneliness in adolescence. In the present study, the relation between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and loneliness in adolescent boys and girls was examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 305). Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine the baseline level and the change in loneliness over time. The main finding was that the BDNF gene was not related to loneliness in the total sample. A BDNF by sex interaction was found, in that Met carrying girls had the highest levels of loneliness at baseline, whereas in boys the ValVal genotype was related to higher levels of loneliness. Our results underline the importance of sex-stratified analyses when examining effects of the BDNF genotype and the necessity of conducting gene studies to intermediate phenotypes of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Verhagen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Eeske van Roekel
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Comasco E, Hahn A, Ganger S, Gingnell M, Bannbers E, Oreland L, Wikström J, Epperson CN, Lanzenberger R, Sundström-Poromaa I. Emotional fronto-cingulate cortex activation and brain derived neurotrophic factor polymorphism in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 35:4450-8. [PMID: 24615932 PMCID: PMC4107029 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is the prototypical sex‐specific disorder in which symptom onset and offset require a particular hormonal milieu and for which there is moderate heritability. The present study investigated brain emotion processing in PMDD and healthy controls, as well as functional polymorphisms in two candidate genes for PMDD, the serotonin transporter (5‐HTT) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The 5‐HTT linked polymorphic region (5‐HTTLPR) and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms were genotyped in 31 patients with PMDD and 31 healthy controls. A subset of 16 patients and 15 controls participated in two functional magnetic resonance imaging‐sessions performing an emotion processing task; once in the mid‐follicular, and once in the late luteal phase which corresponds with maximum severity of mood symptoms. Genotypes were not directly associated with PMDD. A main effect of group was found in the whole brain analysis, with patients having lower activation of the pre‐genual anterior cingulate and ventro‐medial prefrontal cortex, independent of menstrual cycle phase. Post‐hoc functional ROI analyses in the fronto‐cingulate cluster showed no effect of 5‐HTTLPR genotype but a genotype‐by‐group‐by‐phase interaction effect of BDNF Val66Met. Women with PMDD who were carriers of the Met‐allele had lower fronto‐cingulate cortex activation in the luteal phase compared to Met‐allele carrying controls. The results provide suggestive evidence of impaired emotion‐induced fronto‐cingulate cortex activation in PMDD patients. Although limited by a small sample, the potential influence of BDNF Val66Met in PMDD is in line with preclinical findings. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4450–4458, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Zhou JX, Li HC, Bai XJ, Chang BC, Li CJ, Sun P, Chen LM. Functional Val66Met polymorphism of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in type 2 diabetes with depression in Han Chinese subjects. Behav Brain Funct 2013; 9:34. [PMID: 23968401 PMCID: PMC3765870 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-9-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of major depression. Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have a high prevalence of major depression and low levels of BDNF. We therefore explored whether the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with co-morbid depression and whether depression affects the serum levels of BDNF in a Han Chinese subjects with T2DM. Methods A Total of 296 T2DM patients and 70 healthy volunteers (Health control, HC group) were recruited in this study. T2DM patients were divided into two subgroups: depressive diabetes group (DDM group, n = 64) and non-depressive diabetes group (NDDM group, n = 232), according to the presence or the absence of depression assessed by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Val66Met polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP). Serum BDNF levels were measured by ELISA kit. Results In this study, 21.6% (64/296) patients with T2DM had depression. The BDNF Val66Met genotype distributions were statistically different among the three groups (χ2 = 7.39, p < 0.05). DDM group carried the highest frequencies of Met allele (53.9%) compared to HC group (39.3%) and NDDM group (38.8%). Subjects with Met/Met had lowest serum BDNF levels (76.59 ± 5.12 pg/ml, F = 7.39, p < 0.05) compared to subjects with Val/Met (79.04 ± 5.19 pg/ml) and Val/Val (83.83 ± 3.97 pg/ml). Within T2DM group, it was also observed that the serum BDNF levels in DDM group were significantly lower than those in NDDM group (76.67 ± 5.35 vs. 79.84 ± 3.97 pg/ml, p < 0.05). In type 2 diabetes subjects, BDNF serum levels were significant correlations with genotypes (r = −0.346, p < 0.01), depression scores (r = −0.486, p < 0.01) and HbA1c (r = −0.168, p < 0.05). After adjustment for gender, HbA1c, BMI and numbers of complications, BDNF Val/Met genotype distributions (OR = 2.105, p < 0.05) and decreased serum BDNF levels (OR = 0.835, p < 0.01) were independently associated with depression in T2DM. Conclusions The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism might be implicated in the pathogenesis of depression in T2DM by decreasing serum BDNF levels in Han Chinese Subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Xin Zhou
- 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Hormone and Development (Ministry of Health), Metabolic Disease Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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16
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Stjepanović D, Lorenzetti V, Yücel M, Hawi Z, Bellgrove MA. Human amygdala volume is predicted by common DNA variation in the stathmin and serotonin transporter genes. Transl Psychiatry 2013; 3:e283. [PMID: 23860484 PMCID: PMC3731781 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the relevance of changes in amygdala volume to psychiatric illnesses and its heritability in both health and disease, the influence of common genetic variation on amygdala morphology remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the influence of a number of novel genetic variants on amygdala volume in 139 neurologically healthy individuals of European descent. Amygdala volume was significantly associated with allelic variation in the stathmin (STMN1) and serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) genes, which have been linked to healthy and disordered affective processing. These results were replicated across both manual and automated methods of amygdala parcellation, although manual tracing showed stronger effects, providing a cautionary note to studies relying on automated parcellation methods. Future studies will need to determine whether amygdala volume mediates the impact of stathmin and serotonin transporter gene variants on normal and dysfunctional emotion processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Stjepanović
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - V Lorenzetti
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - M Yücel
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Z Hawi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia,School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - M A Bellgrove
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia,School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Nieto R, Kukuljan M, Silva H. BDNF and schizophrenia: from neurodevelopment to neuronal plasticity, learning, and memory. Front Psychiatry 2013; 4:45. [PMID: 23785335 PMCID: PMC3683823 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that has been related not only to neurodevelopment and neuroprotection, but also to synapse regulation, learning, and memory. Research focused on the neurobiology of schizophrenia has emphasized the relevance of neurodevelopmental and neurotoxicity-related elements in the pathogenesis of this disease. Research focused on the clinical features of schizophrenia in the past decades has emphasized the relevance of cognitive deficits of this illness, considered a core manifestation and an important predictor for functional outcome. Variations in neurotrophins such as BDNF may have a role as part of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, from the neurodevelopmental alterations to the molecular mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Nieto
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Kukuljan
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - H. Silva
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Clínica Psiquiátrica Universitaria, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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