Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is related with adverse cardiac remodeling and high NTproBNP

Abstract

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuronal growth factor essential for normal cardiac contraction and relaxation. Alterations in BDNF signaling are related to the development of cardiovascular disease. Whether BDNF is related to subclinical cardiac remodeling is unclear. We related BDNF with echocardiographic parameters and NTproBNP in a large population-based cohort (n = 2,976, median age 48 years; 45% male). Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on all subjects and BDNF was measured by ELISA. Study participants with severe kidney dysfunction, previous myocardial infarction, and LV ejection fraction <40% were excluded. Linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, lean mass, fat mass, current smoking, systolic blood pressure and depression. Low BDNF was associated with high NTproBNP. A 10,000 pg/ml lower BDNF was related with a 2.5 g higher (95%-confidence interval [CI]: 0.2 to 4.9; p = 0.036) LV mass, 0.01 cm posterior wall thickness (0.003 to 0.022; p = 0.007) and 0.02 E/A ratio (0.003 to 0.042, p = 0.026). Here we show that low BDNF levels are related with adverse cardiac remodeling and higher levels of NTproBNP. Further research is warranted to assess if BDNF may be used to monitor neuronal-cardiac damage during CVD progression.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphism in post-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention

“…Previous animals and clinical trials have revealed that the BDNF levels were modulated by BDNF gene polymorphism and that CV actions of circulating BDNF likely correspond to this SNP 43,44 . Moreover, low circulating levels of BDNF were associated with adverse cardiac remodeling after STEMI and higher levels of NTproBNP 45 . Nevertheless, there are investigations that have yielded no close association between the genetic variants of BDNF and the serum levels of this peptide 43,45 .…”

“…Moreover, low circulating levels of BDNF were associated with adverse cardiac remodeling after STEMI and higher levels of NTproBNP 45 . Nevertheless, there are investigations that have yielded no close association between the genetic variants of BDNF and the serum levels of this peptide 43,45 . There is a hypothesis that the BDNF Val66Met genotype can affect cardiac function and CV risk through other mechanisms.…”

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, depressive symptoms and somatic comorbidity in patients with coronary heart disease

“…Regarding the adjustment for cardiovascular conditions (e.g. ACS or CHF), it is important to point to the fact that the causal direction of the association between cardiovascular conditions and BDNF, especially concerning different disease stages, still remains unclear (Ejiri et al, 2005;Hashimoto, 2013;Bahls et al, 2019). Our models investigating this association cannot account for this uncertainty.…”

“…However, cause and effect of BDNF and cardiovascular mechanisms are currently still unclear (Ejiri et al, 2005;Hashimoto, 2013;Bahls et al, 2019).…”

Clinical utility of brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a biomarker with left ventricular echocardiographic indices for potential diagnosis of coronary artery disease

“…Relating serum BDNF levels with echocardiographic indices may provide the involvement of BDNF in cardiac systems, which may be useful in developing a potential alternative method for CAD diagnosis. Recently Bahls et al, 2019 showed the association between low BDNF and echocardiographic indices in participants with traditional risk factors of future CAD 17 . However, the role of BDNF with cardiac left ventricular function and its ability to classify CAD from healthy controls is less well known.…”