Haplotype transmission comparisons in this and previous studies point to a functionally distinct BDNF haplotype uniquely marked by the rare Met66 allele, which is undertransmitted and likely confers a protective effect in OCD and other psychiatric disorders.
A variation in the BDNF gene (val66met) affects the function of BDNF in neurons, predicts variation in human memory, and is associated with several neurological and psychiatric disorders.
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is critical for neuronal function and survival, and is likely to be important in psychiatric disorders.
Association studies of genetic variants of the BDNF gene with various psychiatric disorders have been published with reports of associations and nonreplications.
The valine (Val)66-to-methionine (Met) variant, located in the pro brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) sequence, has been extensively studied through linkage and association approaches in several psychiatric disorders.
Both serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes have shown positive associations with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and some other psychiatric disorders, but these results have not been consistently replicated.
The hypothesis that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathogenesis of major depression is supported by several research findings; however, genetic studies assessing the relationship between BDNF and psychiatric disorders have produced conflicting results.
To test this hypothesis we measured Ucn1 mRNA and BDNF mRNA levels in the npEW of seven male and four female, drug-free suicide victims with major depression, and compared the data with those obtained from 10 male and seven female individuals without neurological and psychiatric disorders (controls).
Altered hippocampal volume, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism, and neuroticism have each been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, especially depression.
Given the fact that expression of brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF) is associated with stress-induced behavioral changes, it was hypothesized that the BDNF Val-sup-6-sup-6Met genotype may mediate genetic effects on stress sensitivity, conditional on the level of concurrent positive emotions.
Association of the valine/methionine variant at codon 66 (Val66Met) of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been reported inconsistently across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders.
Literature review on the functions of the genes suggests that haploinsufficiency of SLC1A2, PRRG4, and BDNF may contribute to mental retardation and behavioral problems.
Thus we prepared a minireview in order to evaluate the neuroprotective role of BDNF by psychiatric disorders which are characterized with prominent neuronal cell death.
Hippocampal (pro)BDNF and receptor levels were also affected by genotype, suggesting that allelic variations are important in the hippocampal abnormalities seen in these psychiatric disorders.
A single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) in the human gene, resulting in a valine to methionine substitution in the pro-BDNF protein, was thought to associate with psychiatric disorders and might play roles in the individual difference of cognitive abilities.
Several polymorphisms in BDNF have been reported and studied in psychiatric disorders but the most frequent is the p.Val66Met (rs6265G > A) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), with functional effects on the intracellular trafficking and secretion of the protein.
In spite of abundant evidence that Val66MetBDNF polymorphism has an impact on several different neurological or psychiatric disorders, we conclude that a major clinical impact of Val66Met polymorphism as a disease modifier in temporal lobe epilepsy is probably unlikely.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, and has been linked to neuroticism, a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders.
G196A, a common polymorphism of the BDNF gene, not only affects cognitive and motor processes, but also is associated with various psychiatric disorders.
Early life events, such as psychophysical stress, affect NGF and BDNF levels and induce dysregulation of the HPA axis, thereby affecting brain development and contributing to inter-individual differences in vulnerability to stress or psychiatric disorders.
Previous studies have shown decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum of patients with psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and conversion disorder (CD).
A single nucleotide polymorphism (val66met) in the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene has been shown to be a risk factor for a number of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.
The tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor system has been associated with psychiatric disorders, and animal models of defects in this system suggest that it might have a particular role in anxiety.
Since BDNF is involved in different ways in various psychiatric disorders we hypothesized that its genetic polymorphisms could be associated with the co-morbidity phenomenon in BD.