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Gender differences in platelet brain derived neurotrophic factor in patients with cardiovascular disease and

Marlene S Williams1, Chelsea K Ngongang1, Pam Ouyang1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Journal of Psychiatric Research
|April 16, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Women with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) show higher platelet levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) compared to men, irrespective of depression status. These findings suggest potential sex-specific differences in how platelet activation and depression are linked.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Women exhibit a higher prevalence of depression than men.
  • Reduced serum levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) are associated with depression.
  • BDNF may play a protective role against coronary artery disease (CAD) pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential gender differences in BDNF levels among patients with stable CAD and comorbid depression.
  • To compare plasma and platelet BDNF levels between men and women with stable CAD.

Main Methods:

  • The study included 37 patients (17 women) diagnosed with stable CAD.
  • Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaire.
  • Plasma and platelet BDNF levels were quantified using standard ELISA methods.

Main Results:

  • Platelet BDNF levels were significantly higher than plasma BDNF levels across all participants.
  • Women demonstrated significantly higher platelet BDNF levels compared to men (p < 0.001).
  • These gender differences in platelet BDNF persisted regardless of depression severity.

Conclusions:

  • Women with stable CAD possess elevated platelet BDNF levels compared to men, independent of depression.
  • Observed sex-specific differences in BDNF may indicate distinct mechanisms linking platelet activation and depression in men and women.

Keywords:
BDNFCADDepressionGenderPlatelets

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