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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and inflammatory markers in school-aged children with early trauma
J Bücker1, G R Fries, F Kapczinski
1Bipolar Disorder Program and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, National Institute for Translational Medicine, INCT-TM Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Insights
Childhood trauma (CT) is linked to higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine. These changes may reflect the body's response to trauma in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Immunology
Background:
- The impact of childhood trauma (CT) on neurotrophic factors and cytokines is not well understood.
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in neuronal plasticity and survival.
- Cytokines are signaling proteins involved in inflammation and immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between childhood trauma (CT) and plasma levels of BDNF and cytokines in children.
- To compare BDNF and cytokine levels in children with and without a history of trauma.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 36 children with CT and 26 children without CT.
- Assessed CT using clinical interviews and DSM-IV criteria for PTSD.
- Measured plasma levels of BDNF and various cytokines (IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, TNF-α).
- Utilized ANCOVA with psychiatric symptoms and BMI as covariates.
Main Results:
- Children with CT exhibited significantly higher levels of BDNF and TNF-α compared to controls.
- No significant differences in IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1β levels were observed between groups.
- These findings were robust after excluding children with a history of inflammatory disease.
Conclusions:
- Childhood trauma is associated with elevated BDNF and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) levels in children.
- Increased BDNF may represent a compensatory mechanism against CT's detrimental effects.
- Elevated TNF-α suggests a potential pro-inflammatory state following CT, warranting further investigation into long-term implications.
Objective:
The impact of childhood trauma (CT) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines levels remains unclear. We investigated the association between CT and changes in BDNF and cytokines plasma levels in children.
Method:
We recruited 36 children with trauma (CT+) and 26 children without trauma (CT-). The presence of CT was based on a clinical interview and by Criteria A of DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Blood samples were drawn from all children to assess BDNF and cytokines. ancova was performed with psychiatric symptoms and BMI as covariates to evaluate group differences in plasma levels.
Results:
CT+ showed increased levels of BDNF and TNF-α after excluding children with history of inflammatory disease (P<0.05) when compared with those CT-. IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1β levels were not statistically different between groups.
Conclusion:
CT+ showed increased BDNF and proinflammatory cytokines levels. The increase in BDNF levels may be an attempt to neutralize the negative effects of CT, while an increase in TNF-a levels be associated with a proinflammatory state after CT. How these changes associated with trauma relate to other biological changes and illness trajectory later in life remain to be further studied.
