Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany; Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2024 Dec;170:107192. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107192. Epub 2024 Sep 21.
The neurotrophic protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a pivotal role in brain function and is affected by acute and chronic stress. We here investigate the patterns of BDNF and cortisol stress reactivity and recovery under the standardized stress protocol of the TSST and the effect of perceived chronic stress on the basal BDNF levels in healthy young men. Twenty-nine lean young men underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a resting condition. Serum BDNF and cortisol were measured before and repeatedly after both conditions. The perception of chronic stress was assessed by the Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress (TICS). After the TSST, there was a significant increase over time for BDNF and cortisol. Stronger increase in cortisol in response to stress was linked to an accelerated BDNF decline after stress. Basal resting levels of BDNF was significantly predicted by chronic stress perception. The increased BDNF level following psychosocial stress suggest a stress-induced neuroprotective mechanism. The presumed interplay between BDNF and the HPA-axis indicates an antagonistic relationship of cortisol on BDNF recovery post-stress. Chronically elevated high cortisol levels, as present in chronic stress, could thereby contribute to reduced neurogenesis, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions in persons suffering from chronic stress.
神经营养蛋白脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在大脑功能中起着关键作用，并且受到急性和慢性应激的影响。我们在这里研究了在 TSST 标准化应激方案下 BDNF 和皮质醇应激反应和恢复的模式，以及感知到的慢性应激对健康年轻男性基础 BDNF 水平的影响。29 名瘦的年轻男性接受了特里尔社会应激测试（TSST）和休息条件。在两种情况下，分别在之前和之后多次测量血清 BDNF 和皮质醇。慢性应激的感知是通过特里尔慢性应激量表（TICS）来评估的。在 TSST 之后，BDNF 和皮质醇随时间显著增加。皮质醇对压力的反应越强，应激后 BDNF 的下降速度就越快。BDNF 的基础静息水平显著受慢性应激感知的预测。心理社会应激后 BDNF 水平的升高表明存在应激诱导的神经保护机制。BDNF 和 HPA 轴之间的假定相互作用表明皮质醇对应激后 BDNF 恢复具有拮抗关系。慢性应激中存在的慢性升高的高皮质醇水平，可能导致神经发生减少，并增加患有慢性应激的人的神经退行性疾病风险。
