An Integrative Review of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Serious Cardiovascular Conditions
Shannon Halloway1, Miyeon Jung, An-Yun Yeh
1Shannon Halloway, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois. Miyeon Jung, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis. An-Yun Yeh, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, New York, New York. Jia Liu, PhD, RN, is Visiting Research Associate, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis Ellen McAdams, BSW, Student, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She is now an Industrial/Organizational Psychology Student, East Carolina University Department of Psychology, Greenville, North Carolina. Maddison Barley, is Nursing Student, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Susan G. Dorsey, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor and Chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Susan J. Pressler, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAHA, is Professor, Sally Reahard Chair, and the Director of the Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis.
Background:
There is emerging evidence that supports a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the risk and presence of serious cardiovascular conditions. However, few existing literature reviews methodically describe empirical findings regarding this relationship.
Objectives:
The purpose of this integrative review was to (a) evaluate BDNF (serum/plasma BDNF levels, BDNF Val66Met genotype) among humans at risk for or with serious cardiovascular conditions and (b) investigate the relationship between BDNF and risk/presence of serious cardiovascular conditions in humans.
Methods:
An integrative review was conducted. Articles in English included human subjects, a measure of BDNF levels or BDNF gene, serious cardiovascular conditions, and quantitative data analyses. The search resulted in 475 unique titles, with the final sample including 35 articles representing 30 studies. Articles that received "good" or "fair" ratings (n = 31) using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Quality Assessment Tools were included for synthesis.
Results:
The retrieved articles were largely nonexperimental, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 5,510 participants. Overall, BDNF levels were lower in patients with chronic heart failure and stroke, but higher in patients with unstable angina and recent myocardial infarction. Lower BDNF levels were associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with a prior history of serious cardiovascular conditions and decreased cardiovascular risk in healthy samples. For BDNF genotype, on average, 36.3% of participants had Met alleles. The frequency of the BDNF Met allele varied across race/ethnicity and cardiovascular conditions and in terms of association with serious cardiovascular condition incidence/risk.
Discussion:
These findings indicate an emerging area of science. Future investigation is needed on serious cardiovascular condition phenotypes in relationship to BDNF in the same study conditions. Results also suggest for use of standardized BDNF measurement across studies and additional investigation in cardiovascular inflammatory processes that affect BDNF. Moreover, within specific populations, the frequency of Met alleles may be too low to be detected in sample sizes normally found in these types of studies.
More Related Videos
13:46An Improved Protocol to Purify and Directly Mono-Biotinylate Recombinant BDNF in a Tube for Cellular Trafficking Studies in Neurons
Published on: July 11, 2020
10:32Implantation of Miniosmotic Pumps and Delivery of Tract Tracers to Study Brain Reorganization in Pathophysiological Conditions
Published on: January 18, 2016
Related Concept Videos
00:49The Blood-brain Barrier
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...