Search results for "Neurotrophic factor"

Microtubule Dynamics and Neuronal Excitability: Advances on Cytoskeletal Components Implicated in Epileptic Phenomena

2020

AbstractExtensive researches have deepened knowledge on the role of synaptic components in epileptogenesis, but limited attention has been devoted to the potential implication of the cytoskeleton. The study of the development of epilepsy and hyperexcitability states involves molecular, synaptic, and structural alterations of neuronal bioelectric activity. In this paper we aim to explore the neurobiological targets involved in microtubule functioning and cytoskeletal transport, i.e. how dynamic scaffolding of microtubules can influence neuronal morphology and excitability, in order to suggest a potential role for microtubule dynamics in the processes turning a normal neuronal network in a hy…

Neurotrophic systems promoting neurogenesis in the adult rat brain

2008

Ketogenic and Modified Mediterranean Diet as a Tool to Counteract Neuroinflammation in Multiple Sclerosis: Nutritional Suggestions.

2022

Ketogenic Diet is a nutritional pattern often used as dietotherapy in inflammatory diseases, including neurological disorders. Applied on epileptic children since 1920, in recent years it has been taken into account again as a tool to both reduce inflammatory burdens and ameliorate the nutritional status of patients affected by different pathologies. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an immune-mediated neuro-inflammatory disease and diet is a possible factor in its pathogenesis. The aim of this work is to investigate the main potential targets of MS-related impairments, in particular the cognitive deficits, focusing on the alteration of biomarkers such as the Brain Derived-Neurotrophic …

Early reactions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in plasma (pBDNF) and outcome to acute antidepressant treatment in patients with Major Depressio…

2011

Abstract In Major Depressive Disorder, a growing data base suggests that the onset of antidepressants’ action can be detected by improvement of depressive symptoms in the first 10–14 days of treatment. Previous studies showed that the mean concentration of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in blood increases during antidepressant treatment and positively correlates with amelioration of MDD symptoms. We previously showed an association between very early changes of the serum BDNF concentration and treatment outcome ( Tadic et al., 2011 . Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 35, 415–420). However, no study has yet investigated whether BDNF concentration in plasma increases in …

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Val66Met) polymorphism does not influence recovery from a post-traumatic vegetative state: a blinded retrospective…

2012

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that influences neuronal plasticity throughout life. Emergence from a vegetative state (VS) after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) implies that the brain undergoes plastic changes. A common polymorphism in the BDNF gene—BDNF Val66Met (referred to herein as BDNFMet)—impairs cognitive function in healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to determine whether the BDNFMet polymorphism plays a role in the recovery of consciousness and cognitive functions in patients in a VS after a TBI. Fifty-three patients in a VS 1 month after a TBI were included in the study and genotyped for the BDNFMet polymorphism. Scores of levels of cognitive fun…

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor correlates with functional and cognitive impairment in non-disabled older individuals.

2015

We used a complete battery of geriatric and psychometric tests to evaluate whether plasma-borne brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a master molecule in neuroplasticity, is associated with the severity of functional and cognitive impairment in non-disabled older individuals. There was a significant positive correlation between BDNF plasma concentrations and the Barthel index, a measurement of the ability of individuals to perform the activities of daily living (p=0.03) and the concentration subcategory measured with the mini mental state examination (MMSE) test (p = 0.01). Furthermore, plasma BDNF inversely and significantly correlated with the blood eosinophil count (p = 0.01), the t…

The Utility of BDNF Detection in Assessing Severity of Huntington's Disease.

2021

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the survival and maturation of neurons, and also promotes and controls neurogenesis. Its levels are lowered in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Clinical pictures of HD can be very diverse, which makes it difficult to assess its severity

Analysis of the RET, GDNF, EDN3, and EDNRB genes in patients with intestinal neuronal dysplasia and Hirschsprung disease

2001

BACKGROUNDHirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a frequent congenital disorder with an incidence of 1 in 5000 live births, characterised by the absence of parasympathetic intramural ganglion cells in the hindgut resulting in intestinal obstruction in neonates and severe constipation in infants and adults. Intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) shares clinical features with HSCR but the submucosal parasympathetic plexus is affected. IND has been proposed as one of the most frequent causes of chronic constipation and is often associated with HSCR.METHODSWe examined 29 patients diagnosed with sporadic HSCR, 20 patients with IND, and 12 patients with mixed HSCR/IND for mutations in the coding regions of …

BDNF, but not NT-4, is necessary for normal development of Meissner corpuscles.

2005

Abstract Meissner corpuscles are rapidly adapting cutaneous mechanoreceptors depending for development on TrkB expressing sensory neurons, but it remains to be established which of the known TrkB ligands, BDNF or NT-4, is responsible of this dependence. In this study we analyze Meissner corpuscles in the digital pads of mice with target mutations in the genes encoding for either BDNF or NT-4, using immunohistochemistry and transmission-electron microscopy, and they were identified based on their morphology and expression of S100 protein. All wild-type animals as well as NT-4 −/− animals and BDNF and NT4 heterozygous animals have Meissner corpuscles that are normal in number and size. Howeve…

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and platelet activation evaluated by soluble P-selectin and soluble CD-40-ligand in patients with acute myoca…

2009

Little is known about the role of neurotrophins (NT) under adult vascular homeostasis in normal and pathological conditions. The NT family, including nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are expressed in atherosclerotic vessels. Previous studies demonstrated that plasma BDNF levels were increased in the coronary circulation in patients with unstable angina. However, the role of BDNF during the onset and evolution of unstable angina remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BDNF, functional parameters and biological markers associated with inflammatory processes and platelet activation. BDNF serum levels were as…