The specific aim of this study was to explore the relationships between biomarkers of neural health: nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), immune health: interleukin 6 (IL-6), c-reactive protein (CRP), and cortisol, as well as the presence of depression, in physically active cannabis users (CU) and non-users (NU).
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score and serum NGF at baseline had an inverse relation (r = -0.648), whereas the change in MADRS score in sertraline group had a positive correlation (r = 0.86) with the change of serum NGF.
Here, we review some of the preclinical and clinical studies aimed at disclosing the role of BDNF and NGF mediated pathophysiological mechanisms of depression and the new therapeutic approaches targeting those key molecules.
Moreover, we measured and analysed the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels and the upstream regulation and signal pathways of BDNF and NGF to explore their related mechanisms in this animal model of depression, including calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) and cAMP response element-binding (CREB).
The identification of higher NIHSS scores, higher HAMD scores, lower dopamine level, lower 5-hydroxytryptamine level, higher tumor necrosis factor-α level, and lower nerve growth factor level might be useful for clinicians in recognizing and treating depression in patients after a stroke.
These data are consistent with our previous findings linking NGF and APP signaling and suggest a causal relationship between altered synaptic connectivity, cholinergic tone depression and TrkA signaling deficit, and cognitive and neuromuscular decline in APP(YG/YG) mice.
In a model of depression (Flinders sensitive line/Flinders resistant line; FSL/FRL rats), increased NGF and BDNF concentrations were found in frontal cortex of female, and in occipital cortex of male 'depressed' FSL compared to FRL control rats.