Are TrkB receptor agonists the right tool to fulfill the promises for a therapeutic value of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor?

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling via its receptor tro pomyosin receptor kinase B regulates several crucial physiological processes.It has been shown to act in the brain,promoting neuronal survival,growth,and plasticity as well as in the rest of the body where it is involved in regulating for instance aspects of the metabolism.Due to its crucial and very pleiotro pic activity,reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and alterations in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling have been found to be associated with a wide spectrum of neurological diseases.Howeve r,because of its poor bioavailability and pharmacological properties,brain-derived neurotrophic factor itself has a very low therapeutic value.Moreover,the concomitant binding of exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor to the p75 neurotrophin receptor has the potential to elicit several unwanted and deleterious side effects.Therefo re,developing tools and approaches to specifically promote tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling has become an important goal of translational research.Among the newly developed tools are different categories of tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor agonist molecules.In this review,we give a comprehensive description of the diffe rent tro pomyosin receptor kinase B receptor agonist drugs developed so far and of the res ults of their application in animal models of several neurological diseases.Moreover,we discuss the main benefits of tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor agonists,concentrating especially on the new tropomyosin receptor kinase B agonist antibodies.The benefits observed both in vitro and in vivo upon application of tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor agonist drugs seem to predominantly depend on their general neuroprotective activity and their ability to promote neuronal plasticity.Moreover,tro pomyosin receptor kinase B agonist antibodies have been shown to specifically bind the tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor and not p75 neurotrophin receptor.Therefore,while,based on the current knowledge,the tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptor agonists do not seem to have the potential to reve rse the disease pathology per se,promoting brainderived neurotrophic factor/tro pomyosin receptor kinase B signaling still has a very high therapeutic relevance.

Sorl1 knockout inhibits expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor:involvement in the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Sortilin-related receptor 1(SORL1)is a critical gene associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.SORL1 contributes to the development and progression of this neurodegenerative condition by affecting the transport and metabolism of intracellularβ-amyloid precursor protein.To better understand the underlying mechanisms of SORL1 in the pathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer s disease,in this study,we established a mouse model of SorI1 gene knockout using cluste red regularly inters paced short palindro mic repeats-associated protein 9 technology.We found that Sorl1-knocko ut mice displayed deficits in learning and memory.Furthermore,the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was significantly downregulated in the hippocampus and co rtex,and amyloidβ-protein deposits were observed in the brains of 5orl1-knockout mice.In vitro,hippocampal neuronal cell synapses from homozygous Sorl1-knockout mice were impaired.The expression of synaptic proteins,including Drebrin and NR2B,was significantly reduced,and also their colocalization.Additionally,by knocking out the Sorl1 gene in N2a cells,we found that expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor,NR2B,and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein was also inhibited.These findings suggest that SORL1 participates in the pathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer s disease by regulating the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B/cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein signaling axis.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in the neuromuscular junction during developmental axonal competition and synapse elimination

During the development of the nervous system,there is an overproduction of neurons and synapses.Hebbian competition between neighboring nerve endings and synapses performing different activity levels leads to their elimination or strengthening.We have extensively studied the involvement of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-Tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor neurotrophic retrograde pathway,at the neuromuscular junction,in the axonal development and synapse elimination process versus the synapse consolidation.The purpose of this review is to describe the neurotrophic influence on developmental synapse elimination,in relation to other molecular pathways that we and others have found to regulate this process.In particular,we summarize our published results based on transmitter release analysis and axonal counts to show the different involvement of the presynaptic acetylcholine muscarinic autoreceptors,coupled to downstream serine-threonine protein kinases A and C(PKA and PKC)and voltage-gated calcium channels,at different nerve endings in developmental competition.The dynamic changes that occur simultaneously in several nerve terminals and synapses converge across a postsynaptic site,influence each other,and require careful studies to individualize the mechanisms of specific endings.We describe an activity-dependent balance(related to the extent of transmitter release)between the presynaptic muscarinic subtypes and the neurotrophin-mediated TrkB/p75NTR pathways that can influence the timing and fate of the competitive interactions between the different axon terminals.The downstream displacement of the PKA/PKC activity ratio to lower values,both in competing nerve terminals and at postsynaptic sites,plays a relevant role in controlling the elimination of supernumerary synapses.Finally,calcium entry through L-and P/Q-subtypes of voltage-gated calcium channels(both channels are present,together with the N-type channel in developing nerve terminals)contributes to reduce transmitter release and promote withdrawal of the most unfavorable nerve terminals during elimination(the weakest in acetylcholine release and those that have already become silent).The main findings contribute to a better understanding of punishment-rewarding interactions between nerve endings during development.Identifying the molecular targets and signaling pathways that allow synapse consolidation or withdrawal of synapses in different situations is important for potential therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.

The effects of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents:a meta-analysis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference(MD;before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants(60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9–16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I^(2) test provided by Review Manager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies(P = 0.67, I^(2) = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant(MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53–4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This metaanalysis was registered at PROSPERO(registration ID: CRD42023439408).

Exercise and exerkine upregulation:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a potential non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease

Physical activity and exercise have several beneficial roles in enhancing both physiological and psychological well-being of an individual.In addition to aiding the regulation of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism,exercise can stimulate the synthesis of exerkine hormones in the circulatory system.Among several exerkines that have been investigated for their therapeutic potential,Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)is considered the most promising candidate,especially in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.Owing to the ability of physical activity to enhance BDNF synthesis,several experimental studies conducted so far have validated this hypothesis and produced satisfactory results at the pre-clinical level.This review highlights some of the recent animal model studies that have evaluated the efficiency of exercise in enhancing BDNF synthesis and promoting neuroprotective effects.Further,this review focuses on understanding the therapeutic benefits of exercise-induced exerkine synthesis as a non-pharmacological strategy in Parkinson’s disease(PD).Regarding physical activity and exerkine induction,the neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)strategy could be considered as an alternate treatment modality for patients affected with PD.

Shugan Jieyu capsule effects on peripheral blood micro-124, micro- 132, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with mild to moderate depression

BACKGROUND To assess the effectiveness of Shugan Jieyu capsules on peripheral blood miR-124,miR-132,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)levels in patients with mild to moderate depression following coronary artery intervention[percuta-neous coronary intervention(PCI)]for coronary heart disease.Patients with mild-to-moderate depression of the liver-qi stagnation type after PCI for coronary heart disease at the 305th Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army were enrolled from June 2022 to November 2023 and randomly assigned to two groups:Experimental(treated with Shugan Jieyu capsules)and control(tr-eated with escitalopram oxalate tablets).This study compared the antidepressant effects of these treatments using 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD-17)scores,metabolic equivalents,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,BDNF,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels,miR-124 and miR-132 levels,distribution of immune-related lymphocyte subsets,and traditional Chinese me-dicine syndrome scores before and after 6 weeks of treatment.RESULTS No significant difference was observed in any index between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treatment,the total efficacy rates were 93.33%and 90.00%in the experimental and control groups,respectively.Experimental group had significantly lower scores for the main and secondary syndromes compared to the control group(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed in the metabolic equivalents between the two groups be-fore and after treatment(P>0.05).The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,high-sensitivity C-reactive pro-tein,and miR-132 were significantly lower,whereas those of miR-124,BDNF,CD3+T lymphocytes,CD3+CD4+T helper lymphocytes,and CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+cells were significantly higher in the experimental group com-pared to the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions during experimental group was signi-ficantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Shugan Jieyu capsules have good efficacy in patients with mild-to-moderate depression after PCI,and its me-chanism may contribute to the regulation of miR-124,miR-132,BDNF levels,and lymphoid immune cells.

Research Progress on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the Sequelae of Stroke

The research progress of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the treatment of sequelae of stroke is an important topic. Stroke is among the diseases with the highest mortality and disability rates among the elderly in China. BDNF plays an important role in the development and functional maintenance of the nervous system. In recent years, the application value of BDNF in rehabilitation therapy has gradually received attention. This study has adopted a systematic literature review method, searched Chinese and English databases, screened relevant studies, and conducted data extraction and quality evaluation. This review systematically introduced the research progress of BDNF in the correlation with post-stroke sequelae, with special attention to its application in post-stroke depression, motor dysfunction, and cognitive dysfunction. The results showed that a decrease in BDNF levels is closely related to the exacerbation of depressive symptoms, limited recovery of motor dysfunction, and the occurrence of cognitive dysfunction. BDNF, as a key neurobiological factor, has shown significant potential in the rehabilitation treatment of stroke. By exploring the potential of BDNF as a therapeutic target to prevent and treat sequelae of ischemic stroke, the current research bottlenecks, and the development trends of future treatment strategies.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor rs6265(Val66Met)single nucleotide polymorphism as a master modifier of human pathophysiology

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is the most prevalent member of the nerve growth factor family.Since its discovery in 1978,this enigmatic molecule has spawned more than 27,000 publications,most of which are focused on neurological disorders.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is indispensable during embryogenesis and postnatally for the normal development and function of both the central and peripheral nervous systems.It is becoming increasingly clear,however,that brain-derived neurotrophic factor likewise plays crucial roles in a variety of other biological functions independently of sympathetic or parasympathetic involvement.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is also increasingly recognized as a sophisticated environmental sensor and master coordinator of whole organismal physiology.To that point,we recently found that a common nonsynonymous(Val66→Met)single nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene(rs6265)not only substantially alters basal cardiac transcriptomics in mice but subtly influences heart gene expression and function differentially in males and females.In addition to a short description of recent results from associative neuropsychiatric studies,this review provides an eclectic assortment of research reports that support a modulatory role for rs6265 including and beyond the central nervous system.

Neuroprotective effects of exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor on amyloid-beta 1-40-induced retinal degeneration

Amyloid-beta(Aβ)-related alterations,similar to those found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease,have been observed in the retina of patients with glaucoma.Decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)are believed to be associated with the neurotoxic effects of Aβpeptide.To investigate the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of BDNF on Aβ_(1-40)-induced retinal injury in Sprague-Dawley rats,we treated rats by intravitreal administration of phosphate-buffered saline(control),Aβ_(1-40)(5 nM),or Aβ_(1-40)(5 nM)combined with BDNF(1μg/mL).We found that intravitreal administration of Aβ_(1-40)induced retinal ganglion cell apoptosis.Fluoro-Gold staining showed a significantly lower number of retinal ganglion cells in the Aβ_(1-40)group than in the control and BDNF groups.In the Aβ_(1-40)group,low number of RGCs was associated with increased caspase-3 expression and reduced TrkB and ERK1/2 expression.BDNF abolished Aβ_(1-40)-induced increase in the expression of caspase-3 at the gene and protein levels in the retina and upregulated TrkB and ERK1/2 expression.These findings suggest that treatment with BDNF prevents RGC apoptosis induced by Aβ_(1-40)by activating the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway in rats.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulate the interaction between astrocytes and Schwann cells at the trigeminal root entry zone

The trigeminal root entry zone is the zone at which the myelination switches from peripheral Schwann cells to central oligodendrocytes.Its special anatomical and physiological structure renders it susceptible to nerve injury.The etiology of most primary trigeminal neuralgia is closely related to microvascular compression of the trigeminal root entry zone.This study aimed to develop an efficient in vitro model mimicking the glial environment of trigeminal root entry zone as a tool to investigate the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the structural and functional integrity of trigeminal root entry zone and modulation of cellular interactions.Primary astrocytes and Schwann cells isolated from trigeminal root entry zone of postnatal rats were inoculated into a two-well silicon culture insert to mimic the trigeminal root entry zone microenvironment and treated with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.In monoculture,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the migration of Schwann cells,but it did not have effects on the migration of astrocytes.In the co-culture system,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the bidirectional migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor markedly promoted the activation and migration of astrocytes.However,in the co-culture system,brain-derived neurotrophic factor inhibited the migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells to a certain degree.These findings suggest that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are involved in the regulation of the astrocyte-Schwann cell interaction in the co-culture system derived from the trigeminal root entry zone.This system can be used as a cell model to study the mechanism of glial dysregulation associated with trigeminal nerve injury and possible therapeutic interventions.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, sex hormones and cognitive decline in male patients with schizophrenia receiving continuous antipsychotic therapy

BACKGROUND There are systematic differences in clinical features between women and men with schizophrenia(SCZ).The regulation of sex hormones may play a potential role in abnormal neurodevelopment in SCZ.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and sex hormones have complex interacting actions that contribute to the etiology of SCZ.AIM To investigate the influence of BDNF and sex hormones on cognition and clinical symptomatology in chronic antipsychotic-treated male SCZ patients.METHODS The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),progesterone,testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL)and BDNF were compared between chronic antipsychotic-treated male(CATM)patients with SCZ(n=120)and healthy controls(n=120).The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to quantify SCZ symptoms,while neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognition.Neuropsychological tests,such as the Digit Cancellation Test(DCT),Semantic Verbal Fluency(SVF),Spatial Span Test(SS),Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test(PASAT),Trail Making Task(TMT-A),and Block Design Test(BDT),were used to assess executive functions(BDT),attention(DCT,TMT-A),memory(SS,PASAT),and verbal proficiency(SVF).RESULTS Although E2 levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the healthy controls,T,PRL,and LH levels were all significantly higher.Additionally,the analysis revealed that across the entire sample,there were positive correlations between E2 Levels and BDNF levels as well as BDNF levels and the digital cancellation time.In CATM patients with SCZ,a significant correlation between the negative symptoms score and PRL levels was observed.CONCLUSION Sex hormones and BDNF levels may also be linked to cognitive function in patients with chronic SCZ.

Overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus protects against post-stroke depression

Post-stroke depression is associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）. In this study, we evaluated whether BDNF overexpression affects depression-like behavior in a rat model of post-stroke depression. The middle cerebral artery was occluded to produce a model of focal cerebral ischemia. These rats were then subjected to isolation-housing combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress to generate a model of post-stroke depression. A BDNF gene lentiviral vector was injected into the hippocampus. At 7 days after injection, western blot assay and real-time quantitative PCR revealed that BDNF expression in the hippo- campus was increased in depressive rats injected with BDNF lentivirus compared with depressive rats injected with control vector. Furthermore, sucrose solution consumption was higher, and horizontal and vertical movement scores were increased in the open field test in these rats as well. These findings suggest that BDNF overexpression in the hippocampus of post-stroke depressive rats alleviates depression-like behaviors.

Gastrodin promotes the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the injured spinal cord

Gastrodin, an active component of tall gastrodia tuber, is widely used in the treatment of dizziness, paralysis, epilepsy, stroke and dementia, and exhibits a neuroprotective effect. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using Allen＇s method, and gastrodin was administered via the subarachnoid cavity and by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days. Results show that gastrodin promoted the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats with spinal cord injury. After gastrodin treatment, the maximum angle of the inclined plane test, and the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores increased. Moreover, gastrodin improved neural tissue recovery in the injured spinal cord. These results demonstrate that gastrodin promotes the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, contributes to the recovery of neurological function, and protects neural cells against injury.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor mediates macrophage migration inhibitory factor to protect neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF)is a chemokine that plays an essential role in immune system function.Previous studies suggested that MIF protects neurons in ischemic conditions.However,few studies are reported on the role of MIF in neurological recovery after ischemic stroke.The purpose of this study is to identify the molecular mechanism of neuroprotection mediated by MIF.Human neuroblastoma cells were incubated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium under oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)for 4 hours and then returned to normal aerobic environment for reperfusion(OGD/R).30 ng/mL MIF recombinant(30 ng/mL)or ISO-1(MIF antagonist;50μM)was administered to human neuroblastoma cells.Then cell cultures were assigned to one of four groups:control,OGD/R,OGD/R with MIF,OGD/R with ISO-1.Cell viability was analyzed using WST-1 assay.Expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),microtubule-associated protein 2(MAP2),Caspase-3,Bcl2,and Bax were detected by western blot assay and immunocytochemistry in each group to measure apoptotic activity.WST-1 assay results revealed that compared to the OGD/R group,cell survival rate was significantly higher in the OGD/R with MIF group and lower in the OGD/R with ISO-1 group.Western blot assay and immunocytochemistry results revealed that expression levels of BDNF,Bcl2,and MAP2 were significantly higher,and expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly lower in the MIF group than in the OGD/R group.Expression levels of BDNF,Bcl2,and MAP2 were significantly lower,and expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher in the ISO-1 group than in the OGD/R group.MIF administration promoted neuronal cell survival and induced high expression levels of BDNF,MAP2,and Bcl2(anti-apoptosis)and low expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax(pro-apoptosis)in an OGD/R model.These results suggest that MIF administration is effective for inducing expression of BDNF and leads to neuroprotection of neuronal cells against hypoxic injury.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its related enzymes and receptors play important roles after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) regulates many neurological functions and plays a vital role during the recovery from central nervous system injuries. However, the changes in BDNF expression and associated factors following hypoxia-ischemia induced neonatal brain damage, and the significance of these changes are not fully understood. In the present study, a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage was established through the occlusion of the right common carotid artery, followed by 2 hours in a hypoxic-ischemic environment. Rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage presented deficits in both sensory and motor functions, and obvious pathological changes could be detected in brain tissues. The m RNA expression levels of BDNF and its processing enzymes and receptors(Furin, matrix metallopeptidase 9, tissuetype plasminogen activator, tyrosine Kinase receptor B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and Sortilin) were upregulated in the ipsilateral hippocampus and cerebral cortex 6 hours after injury;however, the expression levels of these m RNAs were found to be downregulated in the contralateral hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These findings suggest that BDNF and its processing enzymes and receptors may play important roles in the pathogenesis and recovery from neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the University of South Australia(approval No. U12-18) on July 30, 2018.

An enriched environment increases the expression of fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the cerebral cortex of the ischemic mouse brain

Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.

Neural stem cells over-expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor promote neuronal survival and cytoskeletal protein expression in traumatic brain injury sites

Cytoskeletal proteins are involved in neuronal survival.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor can increase expression of cytoskeletal proteins during regeneration after axonal injury.However,the effect of neural stem cells genetically modified by brain-derived neurotrophic factor transplantation on neuronal survival in the injury site still remains unclear.To examine this,we established a rat model of traumatic brain injury by controlled cortical impact.At 72 hours after injury,2 × 10~7 cells/m L neural stem cells overexpressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor or naive neural stem cells（3 m L） were injected into the injured cortex.At 1–3 weeks after transplantation,expression of neurofilament 200,microtubule-associated protein 2,actin,calmodulin,and beta-catenin were remarkably increased in the injury sites.These findings confirm that brain-derived neurotrophic factor-transfected neural stem cells contribute to neuronal survival,growth,and differentiation in the injury sites.The underlying mechanisms may be associated with increased expression of cytoskeletal proteins and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Three important components in the regeneration of the cavernous nerve： brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway

Retroperitoneal operations, such as radical prostatectomy, often damage the cavernous nerve, resulting in a high incidence of erectile dysfunction. Although improved nerve-sparing techniques have reduced the incidence of nerve injury, and the administration of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction, this problem remains a considerable challenge. In recent years, scientists have focused on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the treatment of cavernous nerve injury in rat models. Results showed that both compounds were capable of enhancing the regeneration of the cavernous nerve and that activation of the Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT） pathway played a major role in the process.

Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Expression of c-Fos and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor of the Cerebral Cortex in Rats with Cerebral Infarct

The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation （TMS） on the neurological functional recovery and expression of c-Fos and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） of the cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral infarction was investigated. Cerebral infarction models were established by using left middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） and were randomly divided into a model group （n=40） and a TMS group （n=40）. TMS treatment （2 times per day, 30 pulses per time） with a frequency of 0.5 Hz and magnetic field intensity of 1.33 Tesla was carried out in TMS group after MCAO. Modified neurological severity score （NSS） were recorded before and 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day（s） after MCAO. The expression of c-Fos and BDNF was immunohistochemically detected 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day（s） after infarction respectively. Our results showed that a significant recovery of NSS （P〈0.05） was found in animals treated by TMS on day 7, 14, 21, and 28 as compared with the animals in the model group. The positive expression of c-Fos and BDNF was detected in the cortex surrounding the infarction areas, while the expression of c-Fos and BDNF increased significantly in TMS treatment group in comparison with those in model group 7, 14, 21, and 28 days （P〈0.05） and 7 14, 21 days （P〈0.01） after infarction, respectively. It is concluded that TMS has therapeutic effect on cerebral infarction and this may have something to do with TMS＇s ability to promote the expression of c-Fos and BDNF of the cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral infarction.

Exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor attenuates cognitive impairment induced by okadaic acid in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease, and a typical pathological change in Alzheimer＇s disease is neurofibrillary tangles caused by hyperphosphorylation of tau. An in vivo model of Alzheimer＇s disease was developed by injecting okadaic acid（2 μL） and exogenous BDNF（2 μL） into the hippocampi of adult male Wister rats. Spatial learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze. The expression levels of protein phosphatase 2 A（PP2 A）, PP2 Ac-Yp307, p-tau（Thr231）, and p-tau（Ser396/404） were detected by western blot assay. The expression levels of BDNF, TrkB, and synaptophysin mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results indicated that BDNF expression was suppressed in the hippocampus of OA-treated rats, which resulted in learning and memory deficits. Intra-hippocampal injection of BDNF attenuated this OA-induced cognitive impairment. Finally, our findings indicated an involvement of the PI3 K/GSK-3β/AKT pathway in the mechanism of BDNF in regulating cognitive function. These results indicate that BDNF has beneficial effect on Alzheimer＇s disease, and highlight the potential of BDNF as a drug target for treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease.