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Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Han, JC; Muehlbauer, MJ; Cui, HN; Newgard, CB; Haqq, AM
Published in: J Clin Endocrinol Metab
July 2010

CONTEXT: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) haploinsufficiency is associated with hyperphagia and obesity in both animals and humans. BDNF appears to function downstream of the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway to control energy balance. The potential role of BDNF in the etiology of the severe hyperphagia associated with PWS has not been previously explored. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare BDNF concentrations in subjects with PWS and obese controls (OC) and lean controls (LC). DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a cross-sectional study at an outpatient clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS: We studied 13 subjects with PWS [five females and eight males; mean + or - sd: age, 11.0 + or - 4.1 yr; body mass index (BMI)-Z, 2.05 + or - 0.78], 13 OC (eight females, five males; age, 12.3 + or - 2.7 yr; BMI-Z, 2.18 + or - 0.61), and 13 LC (six females, seven males; age, 12.4 + or - 2.6 yr; BMI-Z, -0.57 + or - 0.73). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: BDNF was measured in serum and plasma by ELISA. Analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex, and BMI-Z. RESULTS: All groups were comparable for age (P = 0.50) and sex distribution (P = 0.49). BMI-Z was comparable between PWS and OC (P = 0.89) and lower in LC (P < 0.001). Adjusted serum BDNF was comparable (P = 0.35) in OC (mean + or - sem: 13.5 + or - 1.2 ng/ml) and LC (19.2 + or - 1.3 ng/ml), but lower in PWS (8.3 + or - 1.2 ng/ml; P = 0.01 vs. OC; P = 0.03 vs. LC). Adjusted plasma BDNF in PWS (217 + or - 130 pg/ml) was lower than OC (422 + or - 126 pg/ml; P = 0.02), but statistically comparable with LC (540 + or - 143 pg/ml; P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Lower BDNF in PWS suggests insufficient central BDNF production because BDNF in peripheral circulation is believed to reflect cerebral BDNF output. Decreased BDNF may be a potential cause for the disordered satiety and morbid obesity associated with PWS. Further studies are needed to confirm this preliminary pilot study in a larger cohort of patients with PWS.

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Published In

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

DOI

EISSN

1945-7197

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

95

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3532 / 3536

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prader-Willi Syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Leptin
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Endocrinology & Metabolism
 

Citation

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Han, J. C., Muehlbauer, M. J., Cui, H. N., Newgard, C. B., & Haqq, A. M. (2010). Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 95(7), 3532–3536. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-0127
Han, Joan C., Michael J. Muehlbauer, Huaxia N. Cui, Christopher B. Newgard, and Andrea M. Haqq. “Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 95, no. 7 (July 2010): 3532–36. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-0127.
Han JC, Muehlbauer MJ, Cui HN, Newgard CB, Haqq AM. Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jul;95(7):3532–6.
Han, Joan C., et al. “Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects.J Clin Endocrinol Metab, vol. 95, no. 7, July 2010, pp. 3532–36. Pubmed, doi:10.1210/jc.2010-0127.
Han JC, Muehlbauer MJ, Cui HN, Newgard CB, Haqq AM. Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with prader-willi syndrome compared to obese and lean control subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jul;95(7):3532–3536.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

DOI

EISSN

1945-7197

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

95

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3532 / 3536

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prader-Willi Syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Leptin
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Endocrinology & Metabolism