Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor Concentrations Change after Alcohol Withdrawal: Preliminary Data of a Case-Control Comparison

Abstract

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are involved in neuroadaptation and foster survival of central and peripheral neurons. In this study, we addressed the question whether BDNF and NGF serum concentrations change during subacute alcohol withdrawal in patients with alcohol dependence compared to healthy controls. Methods: Fifteen patients (age 48.6 ± 7 years) and 15 healthy age-matched controls (age 48.8 ± 7 years) participated consecutively in a 2-week withdrawal study. Results: Mean BDNF levels (7.8 ng/ml, IQR = 4.4–10.7 vs. 16.5 ng/ml, IQR = 13.9–25.6; Z = –3.8, p < 0.0001) and NGF levels (5.8 pg/ml, IQR = 3.8–13.0 vs. 18.4 pg/ml, IQR = 10.9–25.1; Z = –2.5, p = 0.012) were significantly decreased in alcohol-dependent subjects when compared to healthy matched controls. NGF concentrations decreased significantly from day 3 to day 14 (Z = –2.36; p = 0.019). Mean BDNF concentrations showed a tendency to increase after withdrawal from day 3 to day 14 (Z = 1.7; p = 0.078). Conclusion: Decreased NGF and BDNF concentrations in patients suffering from alcohol dependence, which stabilize after physical withdrawal, are in line with withdrawal symptoms and neurological risk factors. In turn, increase of BDNF after acute withdrawal might be connected to neurobiological and behavioral stabilization.

Alcohol-Induced Changes in Methylation Status of Individual CpG Sites, and Serum Levels of Vasopressin and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Alcohol-Dependent Patients during Detoxification Treatment

“…In alcohol dependence, several recent studies have described alterations not only in neurotrophins [1], but also in the levels of volume-regulating hormones, such as the neuropeptides atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and vasopressin (AVP) [2,3,4]. Referring to alcohol dependence, both these neuropeptides have received the most extensive interest as they are known to exert direct effects on central nervous endocrinological pathways [5].…”

Serum BDNF and NGF Modulation by Olive Polyphenols in Alcoholics during Withdrawal

“…Changes in circulating BDNF following alcohol addiction or withdrawal have been widely demonstrated in previous studies [26,27,[44][45][46][47]. In particular, decreased serum BDNF concentrations was found in patients suffering from alcohol dependence which dramatically increase after acute withdrawal [26].…”

“…Indeed, authors discussed that withdrawal from chronic alcohol consumption may elicit significant stress and related anxiety triggering NGF blood release as previously observed for other stressing conditions [11,17]. However, other data showed lowered NGF levels in alcohol-dependent patients [26,49,50]. In one of these study alcoholics were abstinent for 30 days or longer to ruled out alcohol withdrawal effects such as anxiety [49].…”

“…In one of these study alcoholics were abstinent for 30 days or longer to ruled out alcohol withdrawal effects such as anxiety [49]. Thus it may be hypothesized that different circulating BDNF/NGF levels due to withdrawal or long-lasting abstinence or dependence or intoxication may reflect a trait marker of alcohol addiction rather than a state marker [26,28,49,51,52].…”

“…Data show that BDNF and/or NGF secretion were significantly affected by chronic ethanol treatment suggesting that these neurotrophins might be related to ethanolinduced tissue damage [20][21][22][23]. In particular some studies have shown serum BDNF/NGF modifications in human following alcohol related diseases including potentiated BDNF/NGF values during withdrawal [24][25][26][27][28].…”