Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Indices of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health: Data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 5; no. 4; p. e10099
• Main Authors: Golden, Erin, Emiliano, Ana, Maudsley, Stuart, Windham, B. Gwen, Carlson, Olga D., Egan, Josephine M., Driscoll, Ira, Ferrucci, Luigi, Martin, Bronwen, Mattson, Mark P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 09.04.2010; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adiponectin; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aging; Analysis; Bioavailability; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood; Blood cholesterol; Blood pressure; Body fat; Body mass; Brain; Brain research; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular system; Cell survival; Cellular stress response; Cholesterol; Coronary vessels; Correlation analysis; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diabetes and Endocrinology; Diabetes and Endocrinology/Type 2 Diabetes; Energy balance; Female; Females; Folic acid; Gene expression; Genetic engineering; Geriatrics; Globulins; Health risks; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin resistance; Lipoproteins (low density); Longitudinal studies; Low density lipoprotein; Low density lipoproteins; Male; Males; Medical research; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neurons; Neurosciences; Obesity; Older people; Pathogenesis; Phosphorylation; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Physiology/Cardiovascular Physiology and Circulation; Plasma; Plasmas (physics); Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Rodents; Sex Factors; Studies; Testosterone; Triglycerides; Weight control; United States > US; Maryland; Baltimore Maryland
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010099

Besides its well-established role in nerve cell survival and adaptive plasticity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also involved in energy homeostasis and cardiovascular regulation. Although BDNF is present in the systemic circulation, it is unknown whether plasma BDNF correlates with circulating markers of dysregulated metabolism and an adverse cardiovascular profile. To determine whether circulating BDNF correlates with indices of metabolic and cardiovascular health, we measured plasma BDNF levels in 496 middle-age and elderly subjects (mean age approximately 70), in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Linear regression analysis revealed that plasma BDNF is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, regardless of age. In females, BDNF was positively correlated with BMI, fat mass, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol, and inversely correlated with folate. In males, BDNF was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, free thiiodo-thyronine (FT3), and bioavailable testosterone, and inversely correlated with sex-hormone binding globulin, and adiponectin. Plasma BDNF significantly correlates with multiple risk factors for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular dysfunction. Whether BDNF contributes to the pathogenesis of these disorders or functions in adaptive responses to cellular stress (as occurs in the brain) remains to be determined.