BACKGROUND

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) deficiency confers vulnerability to stress, but the mechanisms are unclear. BDNF(+/-) mice exhibit behavioral, physiological, and neurochemical changes following low-level stress that are hallmarks of major depression. After immune challenge, neuroinflammation-induced changes in tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine pathway mediate depressive-like behaviors.

METHODS

We hypothesized that BDNF(+/-) mice would be more susceptible to stress-induced neuroinflammation and kynurenine metabolism, so BDNF(+/-) or wild-type littermate mice were subject to repeated unpredictable mild stress. Proinflammatory cytokine expression and kynurenine metabolites were measured.

RESULTS

Unpredictable mild stress did not induce neuroinflammation. However, only wild-type mice produced the neuroprotective factors interleukin-10 and kynurenic acid in response to repeated unpredictable mild stress. In BDNF(+/-) mice, kynurenine was metabolized preferentially to the neurotoxic intermediate 3-hydroxykynurenine following repeated unpredictable mild stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that BDNF may modulate kynurenine pathway metabolism during stress and provide a novel molecular mechanism of vulnerability and resilience to the development of stress-precipitated psychiatric disorders.