Clinical Significance and Changes in Levels of Serum BDNF, mBDNF, AQP4, proBDNF, and GSK3β in Individuals Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Aug 2026· Health Science Reports· Vol 9· 0 citations· 42 references
Medicine
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mood disorder with unclear pathogenesis and limited diagnostic biomarkers. This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of BDNF, mBDNF, AQP4, proBDNF, and GSK3β between BD patients and healthy controls, and to preliminarily explore their potential clinical significance.
GBA1 variants increase neuropsychiatric vulnerability in Parkinson's disease (PD). In a multicenter cohort of 234 PD patients (78 GBA-PD, 156 nonGBA-PD), we investigated how GBA1 genotype and sex relate to depression. REM sleep behavior disorder was associated with depression in GBA-PD, while sex, cognition, and motor complications were predictors in nonGBA-PD. Depressive symptoms were more severe and progressed faster in GBA-PD, supporting specific monitoring of this genetic subgroup.
P. Mitrotti, M. Avenali, C. Artusi et al.· npj Parkinson's Disease· 0 citations
Abstract Background and aims Recent translational and clinical research emphasise the concept of interacting neurochemical disruptions as a ground for the development of psychosis. At the same time, literature highlighted neurostructural and functional alterations in ASD. However, evidence linking biochemical markers to psychotic symptoms in the context of ASD is still scarce. In this perspective, we aim to investigate biochemical correlations and predictive biological factors of psychotic symptoms in autism, also considering gender differences. Methods For this study, we recruited a total of 22 ASD adult patients assessed through the Psychotic Spectrum – Self-Report version (PSY-SR). Furthermore, a blood sample was drawn in order to perform biochemical evaluations. All biochemical parameters were detected with an ELISA kit. Results considering gender differences, male patients showed higher micromolar HCy levels. Spearman correlation analyses revealed significant correlations between PSY total and single domains and biochemical correlates such as TRP metabolites, plasmic 5-HT and BDNF. Finally, linear regression analyses, revealed specific patterns of negative and positive biochemical predictors (particularly those with the kynurenine pathway) for psychotic symptoms in ASD. Conclusions Globally, our work highlighted that, in ASD adults, psychotic symptoms may be associated with specific biochemical alterations, in particular linked to the kynurenine pathway, BDNF and 5-HT.
C. Bonelli, L. Palego, B. Nardi et al.· World Journal of Biological...· 0 citations
The biological distinction between first-episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic schizophrenia remains unclear. This study investigated a panel of non-canonical serum biomarkers related to neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and neurotrophic signaling across these clinical stages. In a cross-sectional design, serum concentrations of 18 biomarkers were measured using multiplex immunoassay in 49 FEP patients, 80 patients with chronic schizophrenia (SCH), and 80 healthy controls (CON). Principal component analysis identified two major axes (neuroinflammatory-neurotrophic and synaptic), but the distributions of diagnostic groups overlapped substantially. A distinct biomarker profile was identified in FEP, characterized by significantly lower levels of YKL-40 and BDNF, elevated NCAM-1, decreased TDP-43, and a higher frequency of detectable Aβ1‑42 compared to both SCH and CON groups. In contrast, the SCH group did not differ from CON on most of these markers. Correlation analysis revealed a dense, interconnected biomarker network in SCH, centered on MIF and BDNF, while FEP exhibited a single strong correlation between TDP-43 and YKL-40. Principal component analysis identified two major axes (neuroinflammatory-neurotrophic and synaptic) but showed substantial overlap between diagnostic groups. The findings reveal a unique, stage-dependent biological signature in early psychosis, differentiating FEP from both health and the chronic phase of illness. This supports the view of FEP as a distinct pathophysiological state involving dysregulated neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, and protein homeostasis, rather than merely a prodromal stage of chronic schizophrenia. Not applicable.
V. Zakurazhnaya, Y. Zorkina, O. Abramova et al.· BMC Psychiatry· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Background Anxiety and depressive symptoms frequently accompany Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the biological processes underlying these affective complications and their potential peripheral indicators remain incompletely understood. This study evaluated whether circulating concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) differed according to the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among individuals with PD. Methods This exploratory study included 56 individuals with PD and 40 neurologically healthy participants matched for age and sex who were enrolled at the same institution. Clinical characterization included Hoehn–Yahr staging, assessment of daily living function (ADL), cognitive evaluation using MMSE, and measurement of anxiety and depressive symptoms with HAMA‐14 and HAMD‐17. PD‐AD status was determined when participants simultaneously met the predefined cutoff values for both anxiety and depression assessment scales. Circulating concentrations of VIP, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Relationships between biomarkers and clinical variables were examined through Spearman correlation testing, binary logistic regression modeling, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results Relative to healthy participants, the PD group showed lower circulating VIP concentrations and higher IL‐1β and TNF‐α concentrations, with all comparisons reaching statistical significance (p < 0.01). Among participants with PD, those meeting criteria for anxiety and depression showed an additional reduction in VIP accompanied by increased IL‐1β concentrations. Lower VIP concentrations were associated with higher HAMA‐14 and HAMD‐17 scores (r = –0.559 and r = –0.853, respectively), whereas IL‐1β concentrations demonstrated positive relationships with both symptom scales. ROC analysis identified VIP as the biomarker with the strongest ability to distinguish PD‐AD from PD patients without affective symptoms (AUC = 0.892, 95% CI: 0.799 to 0.986; sensitivity: 0.842; specificity: 0.814). IL‐1β demonstrated a moderate capacity for classification, with an AUC of 0.796 (95% CI: 0.666 to 0.926). Conclusion These results suggest that alterations in VIP and IL‐1β are associated with affective symptoms in PD and may contribute to biomarker‐based recognition of PD‐AD in clinical practice. Nevertheless, interpretation of these findings is limited by the observational cross‐sectional design and relatively small cohort size; future studies involving larger longitudinal populations are required for validation.
Liang-Yu Li, Xiao-Yang Jia, Ying-Chang Shi et al.· Brain and Behavior· 0 citations
To investigate whether neuromuscular fatigue and anxiety are associated with a peripheral biological signature involving inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial homeostasis, neurotrophic support, and neuronal/glial injury markers in treatment‐naïve patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Amanda V. Steckert, Keli Dias Feltrin, Luiz Fernando Silva Rodrigues et al.· Brain and Behavior· 0 citations
It is demonstrated that decreased serum BDNF levels are associated with the presence and symptom severity of anxiety disorders, and the Val66Met polymorphism does not appear to be a primary determinant of serum BDNF levels in this population, suggesting that other genetic or environmental factors may be involved.
Dicle Yilmaz Uyanik, Merve Şahin Can, O. Baykan et al.· Molecular Biology Reports· 0 citations
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