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Vouga Ribeiro N, Tavares V, Bramon E, Toulopoulou T, Valli I, Shergill S, Murray R, Prata D. Effects of psychosis-associated genetic markers on brain volumetry: a systematic review of replicated findings and an independent validation. Psychol Med 2022; 52:1-16. [PMID: 36168994 PMCID: PMC9811278 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722002896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given psychotic illnesses' high heritability and associations with brain structure, numerous neuroimaging-genetics findings have been reported in the last two decades. However, few findings have been replicated. In the present independent sample we aimed to replicate any psychosis-implicated SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), which had previously shown at least two main effects on brain volume. METHODS A systematic review for SNPs showing a replicated effect on brain volume yielded 25 studies implicating seven SNPs in five genes. Their effect was then tested in 113 subjects with either schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, 'at risk mental state' or healthy state, for whole-brain and region-of-interest (ROI) associations with grey and white matter volume changes, using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS We found FWER-corrected (Family-wise error rate) (i.e. statistically significant) associations of: (1) CACNA1C-rs769087-A with larger bilateral hippocampus and thalamus white matter, across the whole brain; and (2) CACNA1C-rs769087-A with larger superior frontal gyrus, as ROI. Higher replication concordance with existing literature was found, in decreasing order, for: (1) CACNA1C-rs769087-A, with larger dorsolateral-prefrontal/superior frontal gyrus and hippocampi (both with anatomical and directional concordance); (2) ZNF804A-rs11681373-A, with smaller angular gyrus grey matter and rectus gyri white matter (both with anatomical and directional concordance); and (3) BDNF-rs6265-T with superior frontal and middle cingulate gyri volume change (with anatomical and allelic concordance). CONCLUSIONS Most literature findings were not herein replicated. Nevertheless, high degree/likelihood of replication was found for two genome-wide association studies- and one candidate-implicated SNPs, supporting their involvement in psychosis and brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Vouga Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vânia Tavares
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Elvira Bramon
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Timothea Toulopoulou
- Department of Psychology & National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Centre (ASBAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Isabel Valli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sukhi Shergill
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’ College London, London, UK
| | - Diana Prata
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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2
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Kennedy KG, Shahatit Z, Dimick MK, Fiksenbaum L, Freeman N, Zai CC, Kennedy JL, MacIntosh BJ, Goldstein BI. Neurostructural correlates of BDNF rs6265 genotype in youth bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2022; 24:185-194. [PMID: 34263997 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rs6265 single-nucleotide polymorphism has been associated with bipolar disorder (BD), and with brain structure among adults with BD. We set out to investigate the association of the BDNF rs6265 Met allele with neurostructural phenotypes in youth BD. METHODS Caucasian youth (N = 99; 13-20 years; n = 56 BD, n = 43 age and sex-matched healthy controls) underwent 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and genotyping for BDNF rs6265. Region of interest (ROI) analyses of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and hippocampus were complemented by vertex-wise analyses examining cortical thickness, surface area (SA) and volume. Multivariable models included the main effects of diagnosis and gene, and a diagnosis-by-genotype interaction term, controlling for age, sex, and intracranial volume. RESULTS There were no significant gene main effects or diagnosis-by-gene interaction effects in ROI analyses. The vertex-wise analysis yielded a significant gene main effect whereby Met allele carriers had greater middle temporal gyrus SA (p = 0.001) and supramarginal gyrus volume (p = 0.03) than Val/Val individuals. Significant interaction effects were found on lateral occipital lobe SA (p = 0.03), whereby the Met allele was associated with increased SA in BD only. Interaction effects were also found on postcentral gyrus SA (p = 0.049) and supramarginal gyrus SA (p = 0.04), with smaller SA in BD Met carriers versus healthy control Met carriers. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that BDNF rs6265 is differentially associated with regional SA in youth BD. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate whether BDNF protein levels mediate the observed effects, and to evaluate rs6265-related developmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kody G Kennedy
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zaid Shahatit
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mikaela K Dimick
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lisa Fiksenbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Natalie Freeman
- Psychiatric Neurogenetics Section, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Psychiatric Neurogenetics Section, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Psychiatric Neurogenetics Section, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bradley J MacIntosh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin I Goldstein
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Sasaki R, Kojima S, Onishi H. Do Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genetic Polymorphisms Modulate the Efficacy of Motor Cortex Plasticity Induced by Non-invasive Brain Stimulation? A Systematic Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:742373. [PMID: 34650418 PMCID: PMC8505675 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.742373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) of the human primary motor cortex (M1) are widely used in basic and clinical research to induce neural plasticity. The induction of neural plasticity in the M1 may improve motor performance ability in healthy individuals and patients with motor deficit caused by brain disorders. However, several recent studies revealed that various NIBS techniques yield high interindividual variability in the response, and that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype (i.e., Val/Val and Met carrier types) may be a factor contributing to this variability. Here, we conducted a systematic review of all published studies that investigated the effects of the BDNF genotype on various forms of NIBS techniques applied to the human M1. The motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes elicited by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which can evaluate M1 excitability, were investigated as the main outcome. A total of 1,827 articles were identified, of which 17 (facilitatory NIBS protocol, 27 data) and 10 (inhibitory NIBS protocol, 14 data) were included in this review. More than two-thirds of the data (70.4–78.6%) on both NIBS protocols did not show a significant genotype effect of NIBS on MEP changes. Conversely, most of the remaining data revealed that the Val/Val type is likely to yield a greater MEP response after NIBS than the Met carrier type in both NIBS protocols (21.4–25.9%). Finally, to aid future investigation, we discuss the potential effect of the BDNF genotype based on mechanisms and methodological issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoki Sasaki
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Discipline of Physiology, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Sho Kojima
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Onishi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.,Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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4
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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism affects cortical thickness of rostral anterior cingulate in patients with major depressive disorder. Neuroreport 2020; 31:1146-1153. [PMID: 32991522 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The neuro-anatomical substrates of major depressive disorder (MDD) remain poorly understood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (Val66Met/rs6265) is associated with neuro-plasticity and development. In the present study, we explore the influence of BDNF gene polymorphism on cortical thickness in nonelderly, first episode, drug-naive patients with MDD. METHODS Two hundred and sixteen participants (105 MDD patients and 111 healthy controls) were divided into subgroups based on the BDNF genotype. High-resolution MRI was obtained in all participants. A relationship of BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism and cortical thickness was investigated. RESULTS The significant main effect of diagnosis was identified in the left rostal anterior cingulate (rACC), right inferior temporal and right lateral orbitofrontal (lOFC). The main effect of the genotype was observed in the left posterior cingulate cortex. The diagnosis-by-genotype interaction effect was found located in the left rACC. MDD patients who were Met-carriers exhibited thinner cortical thickness in the left rACC than healthy controls Met-carriers. Neither the symptom severity nor the illness duration was correlated significantly with cortical thickness. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that the BDNF gene polymorphism was associated with cortical thickness alterations of the left rACC in MDD patients, and genotype that carries Met may serve as a vulnerability factor in MDD regarding the cortical thickness loss in the left rACC. This finding can be considered as a supportive evidence for the neurotrophic factor hypothesis of depression.
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Jiang Y, Ming Q, Gao Y, Dong D, Sun X, Zhang X, Situ W, Yao S, Rao H. Effects of BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms on brain structures and behaviors in adolescents with conduct disorder. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 29:479-488. [PMID: 31264106 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-019-01363-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that neural abnormalities in conduct disorder (CD) may be subject to genetic influences, but few imaging studies have taken genetic variants into consideration. The Val66Met polymorphism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as a high-interest genetic variant due to its importance in cortical maturation, and several studies have implicated its involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, it is unclear how this polymorphism may influence brain anatomy and aberrant behaviors in CD. A total of 65 male adolescents with CD and 69 gender-, IQ- and socioeconomic status-matched healthy controls (HCs) (age range 13-17 years) were enrolled in this study. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to assess the main effects of CD diagnosis, BDNF genotype, and diagnosis-genotype interactions on brain anatomy and behaviors. We detected a significant main effect of BDNF genotype on temporal gyrification and antisocial behaviors, but not on CD symptoms. Diagnosis-genotype interactive effects were found for cortical thickness of the superior temporal and adjacent areas. These results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may exert its influence both on neural alterations and delinquent behaviors in CD patients. This initial evidence highlights the importance of elucidating potentially different pathways between BDNF genotype and cortical alterations or delinquent behaviors in CD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Jiang
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China.,Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingsen Ming
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yidian Gao
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Daifeng Dong
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiang Sun
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaocui Zhang
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Situ
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqiao Yao
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139, Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Psychiatry and Psychology, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China. .,Medical Psychological Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hengyi Rao
- Center of Functional Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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Laczó J, Cechova K, Parizkova M, Lerch O, Andel R, Matoska V, Kaplan V, Matuskova V, Nedelska Z, Vyhnalek M, Hort J. The Combined Effect of APOE and BDNF Val66Met Polymorphisms on Spatial Navigation in Older Adults. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 78:1473-1492. [PMID: 33325388 PMCID: PMC7836052 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is associated with episodic memory and spatial navigation deficits. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Met allele may further worsen memory impairment in APOEɛ4 carriers but its role in APOEɛ4-related spatial navigation deficits has not been established. OBJECTIVE We examined influence of APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism combination on spatial navigation and volumes of selected navigation-related brain regions in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS 187 participants (aMCI [n = 116] and CU [n = 71]) from the Czech Brain Aging Study were stratified based on APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms into four groups: ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val, ɛ4-/BDNFMet, ɛ4+/BDNFVal/Val, and ɛ4+/BDNFMet. The participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological examination, brain MRI, and spatial navigation testing of egocentric, allocentric, and allocentric delayed navigation in a real-space human analogue of the Morris water maze. RESULTS Among the aMCI participants, the ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had the least accurate egocentric navigation performance (p < 0.05) and lower verbal memory performance than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val group (p = 0.007). The ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had smaller hippocampal and entorhinal cortical volumes than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val (p≤0.019) and ɛ4-/BDNFMet (p≤0.020) groups. Among the CU participants, the ɛ4+/BDNFMet group had less accurate allocentric and allocentric delayed navigation performance than the ɛ4-/BDNFVal/Val group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of APOEɛ4 and BDNF Met polymorphisms is associated with more pronounced egocentric navigation impairment and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe regions in individuals with aMCI and less accurate allocentric navigation in CU older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Laczó
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Cechova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Parizkova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Lerch
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ross Andel
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Vaclav Matoska
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Immunology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Kaplan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hematology and Immunology, Homolka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Matuskova
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Nedelska
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Vyhnalek
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Hort
- Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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McKay NS, Moreau D, Henare DT, Kirk IJ. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met genotype does not influence the grey or white matter structures underlying recognition memory. Neuroimage 2019; 197:1-12. [PMID: 30954706 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has previously been associated with a reduction in recognition memory performance. While previous findings have highlighted that this SNP contributes to recognition memory, little is known about its influence on subprocesses of recognition, familiarity and recollection. Previous research has reported reduced hippocampal volume and decreased fractional anisotropy in carriers of the Met allele across a range of white matter tracts, including those networks that may support recognition memory. Here, in a sample of 61 healthy young adults, we used a source memory task to measure accuracy on each recognition subprocess, in order to determine whether the Val66Met SNP (rs6265) influences these equally. Additionally, we compared grey matter volume between these groups for structures that underpin familiarity and recollection separately. Finally, we used probabilistic tractography to reconstruct tracts that subserve each of these two recognition systems. Behaviourally, we found group differences on the familiarity measure, but not on recollection. However, we did not find any group difference on grey- or white-matter structures. Together, these results suggest a functional influence of the Val66Met SNP that is independent of coarse structural changes, and nuance previous research highlighting the relationship between BDNF, brain structure, and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S McKay
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - David Moreau
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Dion T Henare
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J Kirk
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
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8
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Karpati FJ, Giacosa C, Foster NEV, Penhune VB, Hyde KL. Structural Covariance Analysis Reveals Differences Between Dancers and Untrained Controls. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:373. [PMID: 30319377 PMCID: PMC6167617 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dancers and musicians differ in brain structure from untrained individuals. Structural covariance (SC) analysis can provide further insight into training-associated brain plasticity by evaluating interregional relationships in gray matter (GM) structure. The objectives of the present study were to compare SC of cortical thickness (CT) between expert dancers, expert musicians and untrained controls, as well as to examine the relationship between SC and performance on dance- and music-related tasks. A reduced correlation between CT in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and mean CT across the whole brain was found in the dancers compared to the controls, and a reduced correlation between these two CT measures was associated with higher performance on a dance video game task. This suggests that the left DLPFC is structurally decoupled in dancers and may be more strongly affected by local training-related factors than global factors in this group. This work provides a better understanding of structural brain connectivity and training-induced brain plasticity, as well as their interaction with behavior in dance and music.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falisha J Karpati
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chiara Giacosa
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicholas E V Foster
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Virginia B Penhune
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Krista L Hyde
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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9
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de Araujo CM, Zugman A, Swardfager W, Belangero SIN, Ota VK, Spindola LM, Hakonarson H, Pellegrino R, Gadelha A, Salum GA, Pan PM, de Moura LM, Del Aquilla M, Picon FA, Amaro E, Sato JR, Brietzke E, Grassi-Oliveira R, Rohde LAP, Miguel EC, Bressan RA, Jackowski AP. Effects of the brain-derived neurotropic factor variant Val66Met on cortical structure in late childhood and early adolescence. J Psychiatr Res 2018; 98:51-58. [PMID: 29288952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) has been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders and regional structural brain changes in adults, but little is known about Val66Met's effect on brain morphology during typical or atypical neurodevelopment. Windows of vulnerability to psychopathology may be associated with the different alleles of the Val66Met polymorphism during childhood and adolescence. METHODOLOGY We investigated the effect of Val66Met on cortical thickness in MRI scans of 718 children and adolescents (6-12 years old) with typical development, and in those meeting DSM criteria for a psychiatric disorder. RESULTS Val66Met had a significant effect on cortical thickness. Considering the typically developing group, Met-carriers presented thicker parietal and occipital lobes and prefrontal cortices compared to Val homozygotes. Met-carriers with psychiatric disorders presented thicker medial and lateral temporal cortices than Val homozygotes. Furthermore, a significant genotype × psychiatric diagnosis interaction was found: Met-carriers with a psychiatric diagnosis presented thinner bilateral prefrontal cortices than Val homozygotes. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that Val66Met is associated with cortical maturation in children and adolescents with and without psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Maria de Araujo
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Andre Zugman
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Walter Swardfager
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sintia Iole Nogueira Belangero
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Kiyomi Ota
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia Maria Spindola
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hakon Hakonarson
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Renata Pellegrino
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ary Gadelha
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Abrahão Salum
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Pedro Mario Pan
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Del Aquilla
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Almeida Picon
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Edson Amaro
- Institute of Radiology (INRAD), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Ricardo Sato
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Mathematics & Statistics Institute, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | - Elisa Brietzke
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (DCNL), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luis Augusto P Rohde
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Euripedes Constantino Miguel
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department & Institute of Psychiatry (IPq), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A Bressan
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrea Parolin Jackowski
- National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents (INCT-CNPq), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Meng J, Hao L, Wei D, Sun J, Li Y, Qiu J. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates the effect of loneliness on white matter microstructure in young adults. Biol Psychol 2017; 130:41-49. [PMID: 28988974 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness is a common experience. Susceptibility to loneliness is a stable trait and is heritable. Previous studies have suggested that loneliness may impact regional gray matter density and brain activation to social stimuli, but its relation to white matter structure and how it may interact with genetic factors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether and how a common polymorphism (Val66Met) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene modulated the association between loneliness and white matter microstructure in 162 young adults. The tract-based spatial statistics analyses revealed that the relationships between loneliness and white matter microstructures were significantly different between Val/Met heterozygotes and Val/Val homozygotes. Specifically, loneliness was significantly correlated with reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in widespread white matter fibers within Val/Met heterozygotes. It was also significantly correlated with increased radial diffusivity in Met/Met genotypes but showed no significant association with white matter measures in Val/Val genotypes. Furthermore, the associations between loneliness and fractional anisotropy (or radial diffusivity) in Val/Met heterozygotes turned out to be global effects. These results provide evidence that loneliness may interact with the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism to shape the microstructures of white matter, and the Val/Met heterozygotes may be more susceptible to social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Meng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lei Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Department of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiangzhou Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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11
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Ji LL, Peng JB, Fu CH, Tong L, Wang ZY. Sigma-1 receptor activation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior through NR2A-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in a rat model submitted to single-prolonged stress. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:4987-4993. [PMID: 28791385 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the σ-1 receptor (σ‑1R) possesses neuroprotective effects and is a potential novel therapeutic target for certain psychiatric diseases, including post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) accompanied with anxiety disorder. It has been reported that σ‑1R agonist treatment could be modulated by the brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. However, it remains unclear whether BDNF and its upstream regulator are mechanistically involved in the therapeutic effect of σ‑1R in PTSD. To address this question, rats were subjected to a single‑prolonged stress (SPS) paradigm and σ‑1R agonist administration. Open‑field and elevated plus maze tests were implemented to evaluate the effect of σ‑1R activation on the improvement of anxiety‑like behaviors. Furthermore, the expression levels of BDNF, phosphorylated cAMP responsive element‑binding protein (CREB) and glutamate receptor ionotropic N‑methyl D‑aspartate 2A (NMDAR2A) were investigated in the hippocampi of rats. It was revealed that the downregulation of BDNF, phosphorylated CREB and NMDAR2A induced by SPS were reversed by σ‑1R activation. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that the NMDAR2A/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway is involved in the activation of σ‑1R resulting in therapeutic effects for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Ji
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Jun-Bo Peng
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Hai Fu
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Lei Tong
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Zhen-Yu Wang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
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12
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Yang X, Xu Z, Liu L, Liu P, Sun J, Jin L, Zhu Y, Fei N, Qin W. Effects of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met polymorphism and resting brain functional connectivity on individual differences in tactile cognitive performance in healthy young adults. Neuropsychologia 2017; 102:170-176. [PMID: 28495599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive processes involve input from multiple sensory modalities and obvious differences in the level of cognitive function can be observed between individuals. Evidence to date understanding the biological basis of tactile cognitive variability, however, is limited compared with other forms of sensory cognition. Data from auditory and visual cognition research suggest that variations in both genetics and intrinsic brain function might contribute to individual differences in tactile cognitive performance. In the present study, by using the tactual performance test (TPT), a widely used neuropsychological assessment tool, we investigated the effects of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and resting-state brain functional connectivity (FC) on interindividual variability in TPT performance in healthy, young Chinese adults. Our results showed that the BDNF genotypes and resting-state FC had significant effects on the variability in TPT performance, together accounting for 32.5% and 19.1% of the variance on TPT total score and Memory subitem score respectively. Having fewer Met alleles, stronger anticorrelations between left posterior superior temporal gyrus and somatosensory areas (right postcentral gyrus and right parietal operculum cortex), and greater positive correlation between left parietal operculum cortex and left central opercular cortex, all correspond with better performance of TPT task. And FC between left parietal operculum cortex and left central opercular cortex might be a mediator of the relationship between BDNF genotypes and Memory subitem score. These data demonstrate a novel contribution of intrinsic brain function to tactile cognitive capacity, and further confirm the genetic basis of tactile cognition. Our findings might also explain the interindividual differences in cognitive ability observed in those who are blind and/or deaf from a new perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejuan Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Ziliang Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China; School of Computer and Communication, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu 710050, China
| | - Jinbo Sun
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Lingmin Jin
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Yuanqiang Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Ningbo Fei
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China
| | - Wei Qin
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China.
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13
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Iyappan A, Younesi E, Redolfi A, Vrooman H, Khanna S, Frisoni GB, Hofmann-Apitius M. Neuroimaging Feature Terminology: A Controlled Terminology for the Annotation of Brain Imaging Features. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 59:1153-1169. [PMID: 28731430 PMCID: PMC5611802 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Ontologies and terminologies are used for interoperability of knowledge and data in a standard manner among interdisciplinary research groups. Existing imaging ontologies capture general aspects of the imaging domain as a whole such as methodological concepts or calibrations of imaging instruments. However, none of the existing ontologies covers the diagnostic features measured by imaging technologies in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the Neuro-Imaging Feature Terminology (NIFT) was developed to organize the knowledge domain of measured brain features in association with neurodegenerative diseases by imaging technologies. The purpose is to identify quantitative imaging biomarkers that can be extracted from multi-modal brain imaging data. This terminology attempts to cover measured features and parameters in brain scans relevant to disease progression. In this paper, we demonstrate the systematic retrieval of measured indices from literature and how the extracted knowledge can be further used for disease modeling that integrates neuroimaging features with molecular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandhi Iyappan
- Department of Bioinformatics, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI), Schloss Birlinghoven, Sankt Augustin, Germany.,Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology, Bonn, Germany
| | - Erfan Younesi
- Department of Bioinformatics, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI), Schloss Birlinghoven, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Alberto Redolfi
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Neuroimaging, IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Henri Vrooman
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Biomedical Imaging Group Rotterdam, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Shashank Khanna
- Department of Bioinformatics, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI), Schloss Birlinghoven, Sankt Augustin, Germany.,Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology, Bonn, Germany
| | - Giovanni B Frisoni
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Neuroimaging, IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,Memory Clinic and Laboratoire de Neuroimagerie du Vieillissement (LANVIE), University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hofmann-Apitius
- Department of Bioinformatics, Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing (SCAI), Schloss Birlinghoven, Sankt Augustin, Germany.,Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology, Bonn, Germany
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14
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Jasińska KK, Molfese PJ, Kornilov SA, Mencl WE, Frost SJ, Lee M, Pugh KR, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. The BDNF Val 66Met polymorphism is associated with structural neuroanatomical differences in young children. Behav Brain Res 2017; 328:48-56. [PMID: 28359883 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been associated with individual differences in brain structure and function, and cognition. Research on BDNF's influence on brain and cognition has largely been limited to adults, and little is known about the association of this gene, and specifically the Val66Met polymorphism, with developing brain structure and emerging cognitive functions in children. We performed a targeted genetic association analysis on cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume in 78 children (ages 6-10) who were Val homozygotes (homozygous Val/Val carriers) or Met carriers (Val/Met, Met/Met) for the Val66Met locus using Atlas-based brain segmentation. We observed greater cortical thickness for Val homozygotes in regions supporting declarative memory systems (anterior temporal pole/entorhinal cortex), consistent with adult findings. Met carriers had greater surface area in the prefrontal and parietal cortices and greater cortical thickness in lateral occipital/parietal cortex in contrast to prior adult findings that may relate to performance on cognitive tasks supported by these regions in Met carriers. Finally, we found larger right hippocampal volume in Met carriers, although inconsistent with adult findings (generally reports larger volumes for Val homozygotes), is consistent with a recent finding in children. Gene expression levels vary across different brain regions and across development and our findings highlight the need to consider this developmental change in explorations of BDNF-brain relationships. The impact of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on the structure of the developing brain therefore reflects regionally-specific developmental changes in BDNF expression and cortical maturation trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja K Jasińska
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Peter J Molfese
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Sergey A Kornilov
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation; Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - W Einar Mencl
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth R Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation; Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation; Moscow State University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, USA; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Jasińska KK, Molfese PJ, Kornilov SA, Mencl WE, Frost SJ, Lee M, Pugh KR, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Influences Reading Ability and Patterns of Neural Activation in Children. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157449. [PMID: 27551971 PMCID: PMC4995017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how genes impact the brain’s functional activation for learning and cognition during development remains limited. We asked whether a common genetic variant in the BDNF gene (the Val66Met polymorphism) modulates neural activation in the young brain during a critical period for the emergence and maturation of the neural circuitry for reading. In animal models, the bdnf variation has been shown to be associated with the structure and function of the developing brain and in humans it has been associated with multiple aspects of cognition, particularly memory, which are relevant for the development of skilled reading. Yet, little is known about the impact of the Val66Met polymorphism on functional brain activation in development, either in animal models or in humans. Here, we examined whether the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (dbSNP rs6265) is associated with children’s (age 6–10) neural activation patterns during a reading task (n = 81) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), genotyping, and standardized behavioral assessments of cognitive and reading development. Children homozygous for the Val allele at the SNP rs6265 of the BDNF gene outperformed Met allele carriers on reading comprehension and phonological memory, tasks that have a strong memory component. Consistent with these behavioral findings, Met allele carriers showed greater activation in reading–related brain regions including the fusiform gyrus, the left inferior frontal gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus as well as greater activation in the hippocampus during a word and pseudoword reading task. Increased engagement of memory and spoken language regions for Met allele carriers relative to Val/Val homozygotes during reading suggests that Met carriers have to exert greater effort required to retrieve phonological codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja K. Jasińska
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter J. Molfese
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
| | - Sergey A. Kornilov
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - W. Einar Mencl
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | | | - Maria Lee
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kenneth R. Pugh
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Elena L. Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Moscow City University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States of America
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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16
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Voineskos AN, Felsky D, Wheeler AL, Rotenberg DJ, Levesque M, Patel S, Szeszko PR, Kennedy JL, Lencz T, Malhotra AK. Limited Evidence for Association of Genome-Wide Schizophrenia Risk Variants on Cortical Neuroimaging Phenotypes. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:1027-36. [PMID: 26712857 PMCID: PMC4903045 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are now over 100 established genetic risk variants for schizophrenia; however, their influence on brain structure and circuitry across the human lifespan are not known. METHODS We examined healthy individuals 8-86 years of age, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Zucker Hillside Hospital, and the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. Following thorough quality control procedures, we investigated associations of established genetic risk variants with heritable neuroimaging phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, namely thickness of frontal and temporal cortical regions (n = 565) and frontotemporal and interhemispheric white matter tract fractional anisotropy (FA) (n = 530). RESULTS There was little evidence for association of risk variants with imaging phenotypes. No association with cortical thickness of any region was present. Only rs12148337, near a long noncoding RNA region, was associated with white matter FA (splenium of corpus callosum) following multiple comparison correction (corrected p = .012); this single nucleotide polymorphism was also associated with genu FA and superior longitudinal fasciculus FA at p <.005 (uncorrected). There was no association of polygenic risk score with white matter FA or cortical thickness. CONCLUSIONS In sum, our findings provide limited evidence for association of schizophrenia risk variants with cortical thickness or diffusion imaging white matter phenotypes. When taken with recent lack of association of these variants with subcortical brain volumes, our results either suggest that structural neuroimaging approaches at current resolution are not sufficiently sensitive to detect effects of these risk variants or that multiple comparison correction in correlated phenotypes is too stringent, potentially "eliminating" biologically important signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristotle N. Voineskos
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,These authors contributed equally to the article.,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Kimel Family Translational Imaging-Genetics Laboratory, Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1T8, Canada; tel: 416-535-8501 x33977, fax: 416-260-4162, e-mail:
| | - Daniel Felsky
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,These authors contributed equally to the article
| | - Anne L. Wheeler
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David J. Rotenberg
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Levesque
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sejal Patel
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip R. Szeszko
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
| | - James L. Kennedy
- Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Todd Lencz
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
| | - Anil K. Malhotra
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY;,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute, Manhasset, NY
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17
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Jaworska N, MacMaster FP, Foster J, Ramasubbu R. The influence of 5-HTTLPR and Val66Met polymorphisms on cortical thickness and volume in limbic and paralimbic regions in depression: a preliminary study. BMC Psychiatry 2016; 16:61. [PMID: 26976307 PMCID: PMC4791880 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0777-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural brain abnormalities have been investigated in multi-genetic and complex disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Among the various candidate genes implicated in MDD, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and 5-HT transporter gene linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) have garnered the most attention due to their putative roles in neural plasticity and antidepressant response. However, relatively few studies have assessed the influence of these polymorphysims on cortical thickness or brain volume in para-limbic and limbic regions in MDD, which was the aim of this study. METHODS Forty-three adults with MDD and 15 healthy controls (HC) underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cortical thickness was assessed in frontal, cingulate and temporal regions. Volumetric measures were carried out in the thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus and amygdala. Participants were genotyped to determine their 5-HTTLPR (tri-allelic) and Val66Met polymorphisms. RESULTS In the combined sample (MDD + HC), smaller right pallidum volumes were found in LA/S (LA/S & LA/LG) heterozygotes compared to S/S (S/S, LG/S & LG/LG) homozygotes, though the effect was modest. In the MDD group, larger left thalamus and putamen volumes were observed in LA/LA homozygotes. No Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR genotype effects existed on cortical thickness and no main effects of the Val66Met polymorphism were observed. CONCLUSION Our preliminary results suggest that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with morphometric changes in regions known to play an important role in emotional and reward processing in depression. A larger sample size is required to replicate these findings and to potentially reveal subtle morphometric changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Jaworska
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, PQ Canada ,Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, #4D64 TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N4Z6 Canada
| | - Frank P. MacMaster
- Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, #4D64 TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N4Z6 Canada ,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada ,Child & Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Jane Foster
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Rajamannar Ramasubbu
- Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, #4D64 TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N4Z6, Canada. .,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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18
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Notaras M, Hill R, van den Buuse M. The BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism as a modifier of psychiatric disorder susceptibility: progress and controversy. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:916-30. [PMID: 25824305 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a primary role in neuronal development, differentiation and plasticity in both the developing and adult brain. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the proregion of BDNF, termed the Val66Met polymorphism, results in deficient subcellular translocation and activity-dependent secretion of BDNF, and has been associated with impaired neurocognitive function in healthy adults and in the incidence and clinical features of several psychiatric disorders. Research investigating the Val66Met polymorphism has increased markedly in the past decade, and a gap in integration exists between and within academic subfields interested in the effects of this variant. Here we comprehensively review the role and relevance of the Val66Met polymorphism in psychiatric disorders, with emphasis on suicidal behavior and anxiety, eating, mood and psychotic disorders. The cognitive and molecular neuroscience of the Val66Met polymorphism is also concisely reviewed to illustrate the effects of this genetic variant in healthy controls, and is complemented by a commentary on the behavioral neuroscience of BDNF and the Val66Met polymorphism where relevant to specific disorders. Lastly, a number of controversies and unresolved issues, including small effect sizes, sampling of allele inheritance but not genotype and putative ethnicity-specific effects of the Val66Met polymorphism, are also discussed to direct future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Notaras
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - R Hill
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - M van den Buuse
- 1] Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia [2] School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Bao CH, Liu P, Liu HR, Wu LY, Shi Y, Chen WF, Qin W, Lu Y, Zhang JY, Jin XM, Wang XM, Zhao JM, Liu XM, Tian J, Wu HG. Alterations in brain grey matter structures in patients with crohn's disease and their correlation with psychological distress. J Crohns Colitis 2015; 9:532-40. [PMID: 25895879 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjv057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether Crohn's disease [CD] is correlated with brain structural changes is unclear. This study examined changes in grey matter [GM] structures in CD patients and their correlation with psychological distress. METHODS A total of 45 CD patients and 33 healthy controls were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. Voxel-based morphometry and a cortical thickness analysis were used to determine brain GM volume and cortical thickness. RESULTS The GM volumes in the CD patients were significantly higher in the putamen, pallidum, thalamus, hippocampal cortex, amygdala, precuneus, posterior parietal cortex, periaqueductal grey, and cerebellum, but were lower in many other cortical regions. The cortical thicknesses of the insula, cingulate cortex, parahippocampal cortex, and other cortical regions were significantly reduced in CD patients. After controlling for psychological distress [anxiety and depression], the differences among several regions involved in emotional processing were not significant. The GM volumes of the right anterior cingulate cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and left insula and the cortical thickness of the left insula and orbitofrontal cortex were negatively correlated with disease duration. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that the significant changes in GM structures in multiple brain regions of CD patients can be partially explained by the higher levels of anxiety and depression in these patients. Specific profiles of altered GM structures in CD patients were correlated with disease duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Hui Bao
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Rong Liu
- Outpatient Department, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Yi Wu
- Qigong Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yin Shi
- Outpatient Department, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Feng Chen
- Endoscopy Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Qin
- Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Ye Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Ming Jin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xiao Mei Wang
- Outpatient Department, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Meng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Ming Liu
- Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jie Tian
- Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huan Gan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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20
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Legge RM, Sendi S, Cole JH, Cohen-Woods S, Costafreda SG, Simmons A, Farmer AE, Aitchison KJ, McGuffin P, Fu CHY. Modulatory effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism on prefrontal regions in major depressive disorder. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 206:379-84. [PMID: 25745134 PMCID: PMC4416135 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.143529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism contributes to the development of depression (major depressive disorder, MDD), but it is unclear whether neural effects observed in healthy individuals are sustained in MDD. AIMS To investigate BDNF Val66Met effects on key regions in MDD neurocircuitry: amygdala, anterior cingulate, middle frontal and orbitofrontal regions. METHOD Magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired in 79 persons with MDD (mean age 49 years) and 74 healthy volunteers (mean age 50 years). Effects on surface area and cortical thickness were examined with multiple comparison correction. RESULTS People who were Met allele carriers showed reduced caudal middle frontal thickness in both study groups. Significant interaction effects were found in the anterior cingulate and rostral middle frontal regions, in which participants in the MDD group who were Met carriers showed the greatest reduction in surface area. CONCLUSIONS Modulatory effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on distinct subregions in the prefrontal cortex in MDD support the neurotrophin model of depression.
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21
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A role for the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism in schizophrenia? A comprehensive review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 51:15-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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22
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Lamb YN, McKay NS, Thompson CS, Hamm JP, Waldie KE, Kirk IJ. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism, human memory, and synaptic neuroplasticity. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2014; 6:97-108. [PMID: 26263066 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Some people have much better memory than others, and there is compelling evidence that a considerable proportion of this variation in memory ability is genetically inherited. A form of synaptic plasticity known as long-term potentiation (LTP) is the principal candidate mechanism underlying memory formation in neural circuits, and it might be expected, therefore, that a genetic influence on the degree of LTP might in turn influence memory abilities. Of the genetic variations thought to significantly influence mnemonic ability in humans, the most likely to have its effect via LTP is a single nucleotide polymorphism affecting brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF (Val66Met)]. However, although it is likely that BDNF influences memory via a modulation of acute plasticity (i.e., LTP), BDNF also has considerable influence on structural development of neural systems. Thus, the influence of BDNF (Val66Met) on mnemonic performance via influences of brain structure as well as function must also be considered. In this brief review, we will describe the phenomenon of LTP and its study in non-human animals. We will discuss the relatively recent attempts to translate this work to studies in humans. We will describe how this has enabled investigation of the effect of the BDNF polymorphism on LTP, on brain structure, and on memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette N Lamb
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nicole S McKay
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Jeffrey P Hamm
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen E Waldie
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J Kirk
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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23
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Renjan V, Nurjono M, Lee J. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its association with remission status in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2014; 220:193-6. [PMID: 25174850 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.07.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), characterises a probable neurobiochemical explanation of maldevelopments in schizophrenia and is a candidate biomarker of the illness. A paucity of studies examining neurobiochemical predictors of remission in schizophrenia exists. In this study, we seek to examine if serum BDNF level is associated with remission status in a sample of Chinese patients with schizophrenia. This study did not find a significant relationship between serum BDNF and remission in patients with schizophrenia. Identification of a suitable biomarker for diagnosis, management, and prognostic outcome is crucial and warrants further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidhya Renjan
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | - Jimmy Lee
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore; Department of General Psychiatry 1, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore; Office of Clinical Sciences, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
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24
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Alzheimer's Disease: Risk, Mechanisms, and Therapy. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 52:1477-1493. [PMID: 25354497 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8958-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a neurotrophic support on neuron of central nervous system (CNS) and is a key molecule in the maintenance of synaptic plasticity and memory storage in hippocampus. However, changes of BDNF level and expression have been reported in the CNS as well as blood of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in the last decade, which indicates a potential role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the latest progress in the field of BDNF and its biological roles in AD pathogenesis. We will discuss the interaction between BDNF and amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, the effect of BDNF on synaptic repair in AD, and the association between BDNF polymorphism and AD risk. The most important is, enlightening the detailed biological ability and complicated mechanisms of action of BDNF in the context of AD would provide a future BDNF-related remedy for AD, such as increment in the production or release of endogenous BDNF by some drugs or BDNF mimics.
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25
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Dosage effects of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on cortical surface area and functional connectivity. J Neurosci 2014; 34:2645-51. [PMID: 24523553 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3501-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that leads to a valine-to-methionine substitution at codon 66 (Val66Met) in BDNF is correlated with differences in cognitive and memory functions, as well as with several neurological and psychiatric disorders. MRI studies have already shown that this genetic variant contributes to changes in cortical thickness and volume, but whether the Val66Met polymorphism affects the cortical surface area of healthy subjects remains unclear. Here, we used multimodal MRI to study whether this polymorphism would affect the cortical morphology and resting-state functional connectivity of a large sample of healthy Han Chinese human subjects. An SNP-wise general linear model analysis revealed a "dosage effect" of the Met allele, specifically a stepwise increase in cortical surface area of the right anterior insular cortex with increasing numbers of the Met allele. Moreover, we found enhanced functional connectivity between the anterior insular and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices that was linked with the dosage of the Met allele. In conclusion, these data demonstrated a "dosage effect" of BDNF Val66Met on normal cortical structure and function, suggesting a new path for exploring the mechanisms underlying the effects of genotype on cognition.
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26
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Marqués-Iturria I, Garolera M, Pueyo R, Segura B, Hernan I, García-García I, Sánchez-Garre C, Vernet-Vernet M, Sender-Palacios MJ, Narberhaus A, Ariza M, Junqué C, Jurado MÁ. The interaction effect between BDNF val66met polymorphism and obesity on executive functions and frontal structure. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2014; 165B:245-53. [PMID: 24619555 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Previous research has shown a relationship between obesity and both executive functioning alterations and frontal cortex volume reductions. The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor val66met polymorphism, involved in eating behavior, has also been associated with executive functions and prefrontal cortex volume, but to date it has not been studied in relation to obesity. Our aim is to elucidate whether the interaction between the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor val66met polymorphism and obesity status influences executive performance and frontal-subcortical brain structure. Sixty-one volunteers, 34 obese and 27 controls, age range 12-40, participated in the study. Participants were assigned to one of two genotype groups (met allele carriers, n = 16, or non-carriers, n = 45). Neuropsychological assessment comprised the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, all tasks that require response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a Siemens TIM TRIO 3T scanner and images were analyzed using the FreeSurfer software. Analyses of covariance controlling for age and intelligence showed an effect of the obesity-by-genotype interaction on perseverative responses on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test as well as on precentral and caudal middle frontal cortical thickness: obese met allele carriers showed more perseverations on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and lower frontal thickness than obese non-carriers and controls. In conclusion, the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor may play an important role in executive functioning and frontal brain structure in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idoia Marqués-Iturria
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Harrisberger F, Spalek K, Smieskova R, Schmidt A, Coynel D, Milnik A, Fastenrath M, Freytag V, Gschwind L, Walter A, Vogel T, Bendfeldt K, de Quervain DJF, Papassotiropoulos A, Borgwardt S. The association of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and the hippocampal volumes in healthy humans: a joint meta-analysis of published and new data. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 42:267-78. [PMID: 24674929 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.011] [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: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism (refSNP Cluster Report: rs6265) is a common and functionally relevant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The gene itself, as well as the SNP rs6265, have been implicated in hippocampal learning and memory. However, imaging genetic studies have produced controversial results about the impact of this SNP on hippocampal volumes in healthy subjects. METHODS We examined the association between the rs6265 polymorphism and hippocampal volume in 643 healthy young subjects using automatic segmentation and subsequently included these data in a meta-analysis based on published studies with 5298 healthy subjects in total. RESULTS We found no significant association between SNP rs6265 and hippocampal volumes in our sample (g=0.05, p=0.58). The meta-analysis revealed a small, albeit significant difference in hippocampal volumes between genotype groups, such that Met-carriers had slightly smaller hippocampal volumes than Val/Val homozygotes (g=0.09, p=0.04), an association that was only evident when manual (g=0.22, p=0.01) but not automatic tracing approaches (g=0.04, p=0.38) were used. Studies using manual tracing showed evidence for publication bias and a significant decrease in effect size over the years with increasing sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS This study does not support the association between SNP rs6265 and hippocampal volume in healthy individuals. The weakly significant effect observed in the meta-analysis is mainly driven by studies with small sample sizes. In contrast, our original data and the meta-analysis of automatically segmented hippocampal volumes, which was based on studies with large samples sizes, revealed no significant genotype effect. Thus, meta-analyses of the association between rs6265 and hippocampal volumes should consider possible biases related to measuring technique and sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Harrisberger
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Medical Image Analysis Center, Schanzenstrasse 55, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - K Spalek
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - R Smieskova
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Medical Image Analysis Center, Schanzenstrasse 55, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Schmidt
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Medical Image Analysis Center, Schanzenstrasse 55, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - D Coynel
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Milnik
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Fastenrath
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - V Freytag
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - L Gschwind
- University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Walter
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - T Vogel
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - K Bendfeldt
- University Hospital Basel, Medical Image Analysis Center, Schanzenstrasse 55, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - D J-F de Quervain
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - A Papassotiropoulos
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department of Psychology, Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Department Biozentrum, Life Science Training Facility, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - S Borgwardt
- University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry (UPK), Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Medical Image Analysis Center, Schanzenstrasse 55, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; King's College London, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park 16, SE5 8AF London, UK.
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On the other hand: including left-handers in cognitive neuroscience and neurogenetics. Nat Rev Neurosci 2014; 15:193-201. [DOI: 10.1038/nrn3679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Brooks SJ, Nilsson EK, Jacobsson JA, Stein DJ, Fredriksson R, Lind L, Schiöth HB. BDNF polymorphisms are linked to poorer working memory performance, reduced cerebellar and hippocampal volumes and differences in prefrontal cortex in a Swedish elderly population. PLoS One 2014; 9:e82707. [PMID: 24465375 PMCID: PMC3900399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) links learning, memory and cognitive decline in elderly, but evidence linking BDNF allele variation, cognition and brain structural differences is lacking. Methods 367 elderly Swedish men (n = 181) and women (n = 186) from Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala seniors (PIVUS) were genotyped and the BDNF functional rs6265 SNP was further examined in subjects who completed the Trail Making Task (TMT), verbal fluency task, and had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) examined brain structure, cognition and links with BDNF. Results The functional BDNF SNP (rs6265,) predicted better working memory performance on the TMT with positive association of the Met rs6265, and was linked with greater cerebellar, precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus and bilateral hippocampal volume, and reduced brainstem and bilateral posterior cingulate volumes. Conclusions The functional BDNF polymorphism influences brain volume in regions associated with memory and regulation of sensorimotor control, with the Met rs6265 allele potentially being more beneficial to these functions in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J. Brooks
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Emil K. Nilsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin A. Jacobsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert Fredriksson
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Brouwer RM, van Soelen ILC, Swagerman SC, Schnack HG, Ehli EA, Kahn RS, Hulshoff Pol HE, Boomsma DI. Genetic associations between intelligence and cortical thickness emerge at the start of puberty. Hum Brain Mapp 2013; 35:3760-73. [PMID: 24382822 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive abilities are related to (changes in) brain structure during adolescence and adulthood. Previous studies suggest that associations between cortical thickness and intelligence may be different at different ages. As both intelligence and cortical thickness are heritable traits, the question arises whether the association between cortical thickness development and intelligence is due to genes influencing both traits. We study this association in a longitudinal sample of young twins. Intelligence was assessed by standard IQ tests at age 9 in 224 twins, 190 of whom also underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three years later at age 12, 177/125 twins returned for a follow-up measurement of intelligence/MRI scanning, respectively. We investigated whether cortical thickness was associated with intelligence and if so, whether this association was driven by genes. At age 9, there were no associations between cortical thickness and intelligence. At age 12, a negative relationship emerged. This association was mainly driven by verbal intelligence, and manifested itself most prominently in the left hemisphere. Cortical thickness and intelligence were explained by the same genes. As a post hoc analysis, we tested whether a specific allele (rs6265; Val66Met in the BDNF gene) contributed to this association. Met carriers showed lower intelligence and a thicker cortex, but only the association between the BDNF genotype and cortical thickness in the left superior parietal gyrus reached significance. In conclusion, it seems that brain areas contributing to (verbal) intellectual performance are specializing under the influence of genes around the onset of puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Brouwer
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on regional gray matter volumes and cognitive function in the Chinese population. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 16:127-36. [PMID: 24366608 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-013-8265-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is common and influences the activity-dependent secretion of BDNF, which is critical for neuronal plasticity and survival. This study investigated the genetic effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on cognitive function and regional gray matter (GM) volume in a healthy Chinese population (n = 330). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM)-optimized analysis was used. There was no significant difference in the neuropsychological performances among the three BDNF genotypic groups. VBM analyses demonstrated that Met homozygotes had greater GM volumes than Val homozygotes in the left medial frontal gyrus, the left middle temporal gyrus, the left cerebellum, and the right middle temporal gyrus, and had larger GM volumes than Val/Met heterozygotes in the left middle temporal gyrus, the left inferior temporal gyrus, and the right superior frontal gyrus. Our findings suggest that the presence of two Met alleles has a protective effect on regional GM volumes in the Chinese population.
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Kim SN, Kang DH, Yun JY, Lee TY, Jung WH, Jang JH, Kwon JS. Impact of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Regional Brain Gray Matter Volumes: Relevance to the Stress Response. Psychiatry Investig 2013; 10:173-9. [PMID: 23798966 PMCID: PMC3687052 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2013.10.2.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Genetic imaging is used to investigate the mechanism by which genetic variants influence brain structure. In a previous study, a structural change of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was associated with symptom modulation in post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This study examined the effect of a polymorphism in the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on regional gray matter (GM) volumes and the correlations between the dorsolateral prefrontal GM volume and the stress level in healthy volunteers. METHODS Sixty-one volunteers underwent genotyping for the BDNF Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and completed the Stress Response Inventory (SRI). Magnetic resonance images were also acquired, and the effect of each subject's BDNF genotype and SRI subscore on his or her dorsolateral prefrontal GM volume was evaluated. RESULTS The Val/Val homozygotes had significantly larger GM volumes in the prefrontal cortex and the precuneus, the uncus, and the superior temporal and occipital cortices than Met carriers. The Met homozygotes demonstrated a higher stress response in depression domain than Val/Val and Val/Met groups. A negative correlation between the middle frontal cortex GM volume and the SRI depression subscore was found. CONCLUSION These findings indicate an interaction between genes and brain structure, and they suggest that differences in dorsolateral prefrontal GM volume related to the BDNF Val66Met SNP are associated with resilience to stressful life events, particularly in the dimension of emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Nyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Yeon Yun
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Young Lee
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wi Hoon Jung
- Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Hwan Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Soo Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences - World Class University Program, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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BDNF-based synaptic repair as a disease-modifying strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci 2013; 14:401-16. [PMID: 23674053 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 526] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that synaptic dysfunction is a key pathophysiological hallmark in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis, the impact of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease-relevant endophenotypes - including episodic memory and hippocampal volume - and the technological progress in measuring synaptic changes in humans all pave the way for a 'synaptic repair' therapy for neurodegenerative diseases that targets pathophysiology rather than pathogenesis. This article reviews the key issues in translating BDNF biology into synaptic repair therapies.
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Adamczuk K, De Weer AS, Nelissen N, Chen K, Sleegers K, Bettens K, Van Broeckhoven C, Vandenbulcke M, Thiyyagura P, Dupont P, Van Laere K, Reiman EM, Vandenberghe R. Polymorphism of brain derived neurotrophic factor influences β amyloid load in cognitively intact apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2013; 2:512-20. [PMID: 24179803 PMCID: PMC3777754 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Aside from apolipoprotein E (APOE), genetic risk factors for β amyloid deposition in cognitively intact individuals remain to be identified. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates neural plasticity, which has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. We examined in cognitively normal older adults whether the BDNF codon 66 polymorphism affects β amyloid burden and the relationship between β amyloid burden and cognitive scores, and how this relates to the effect of APOE. Amyloid load was measured by means of 18F-flutemetamol PET in 64 community-recruited cognitively intact individuals (mean age 66, S.D. 5.1). Recruitment was stratified according to a factorial design with APOE (ε4 allele present vs absent) and BDNF (met allele at codon 66 present vs absent) as factors. Individuals in the four resulting cells were matched by the number of cases, age, and gender. Among the APOE ε4 carriers, BDNF met positive subjects had a significantly higher amyloid load than BDNF met negative subjects, while BDNF met carrier status did not have an effect in APOE ε4 noncarriers. This interaction effect was localized to precuneus, orbitofrontal cortex, gyrus rectus, and lateral prefrontal cortex. In the APOE ε4/BDNF met carriers, a significant inverse relationship existed between episodic memory scores and amyloid burden but not in any of the other groups. This hypothesis-generating experiment highlights a potential role of BDNF polymorphisms in the preclinical phase of β amyloid deposition and also suggests that BDNF codon 66 polymorphisms may influence resilience against β amyloid-related effects on cognition. Codon 66 BDNF polymorphisms have been associated with various cerebral effects. Community-recruited cognitively intact older adults underwent amyloid PET. Recruitment was stratified factorially with APOE and BDNF as factors. Aβ load in BDNF met carriers was higher but only in the presence of APOE ε4. Aβ load was associated with worse episodic memory but only in BDNF met/APOE ε4.
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Key Words
- AD, Alzheimer's disease
- APOE
- APOE, apolipoprotein E
- Alzheimer
- Amyloid PET
- BDNF
- BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- Flutemetamol
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- PET, positron emission tomography
- PVC, partial volume correction
- SUVR, standardized uptake value ratio
- SUVRcomp, SUVR in composite cortical volume of interest
- VOI, volume-of-interest
- met, methionine
- val, valine
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Adamczuk
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, University of Leuven, Belgium ; Alzheimer Research Centre KU Leuven, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, Belgium
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