Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Nov;36(10):1562-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.04.010. Epub 2011 May 18.
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key protein in maintaining neuronal integrity. The BDNF gene is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time in a single study, the association between BDNF Val(66)Met polymorphism, anxiety, alcohol consumption, and cortisol stress response.
98 healthy university students (54 females and 44 males), genotyped for the Val(66)Met polymorphism, participated in a physical-stress procedure (cold pressure test, CPT) after having been informed that they would undergo a painful experience. Indices of anxiety and of stress were collected from repeated measurement of salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate.
BDNF Met carriers, were more anxious during the CPT (p<0.001), drank more alcohol per week, (p<0.05), and showed significantly higher anticipatory cortisol response (p<0.05), but not in response to the CPT, than Val/Val homozygotes. The association of BDNF Val(66)Met polymorphism with HPA axis reactivity to stress was not modulated by gender. These results suggest that Met carriers are particularly sensitive in anticipating stressful events, which extends previous findings on the moderating role of the BDNF Val(66)Met polymorphism in the face of stressful life events.
脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是维持神经元完整性的关键蛋白。BDNF 基因被认为在心境和焦虑障碍的病理生理学中发挥重要作用。本研究旨在首次在一项单一研究中探讨 BDNF Val(66)Met 多态性、焦虑、饮酒和皮质醇应激反应之间的关联。
98 名健康大学生（54 名女性和 44 名男性），经 BDNF Val(66)Met 多态性基因分型，在得知将经历痛苦体验后，参加了身体应激程序（冷压力测试，CPT）。焦虑和应激指数通过重复测量唾液皮质醇、血压和心率收集。
BDNF Met 携带者在 CPT 期间更加焦虑（p<0.001），每周饮酒量更多（p<0.05），并且表现出明显更高的预期皮质醇反应（p<0.05），但对 CPT 没有反应，而 Val/Val 纯合子。BDNF Val(66)Met 多态性与 HPA 轴对压力的反应之间的关联不受性别调节。这些结果表明，Met 携带者在预期应激事件时特别敏感，这扩展了 BDNF Val(66)Met 多态性在面对应激性生活事件时的调节作用的先前发现。
