A pilot study of multilevel analysis of BDNF in paternal and maternal perinatal depression

Abstract

Depression in the perinatal period is common in mothers worldwide. Emerging research indicates that fathers are also at risk of developing perinatal depression. However, knowledge regarding biological risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms of perinatal depression is still scarce, particularly in fathers. It has been suggested that the neurotrophin BDNF may play a role in maternal perinatal depression; however, there is currently no data regarding paternal perinatal depression. For this pilot study, 81 expecting parents were recruited and assessed at several time points. We screened for depression using EPDS and MADRS, investigated several psychosocial variables, and took blood samples for BDNF val66met genotyping, epigenetic, and protein analysis. Between pregnancy and 12 months postpartum (pp), we found that 3.7 to 15.7% of fathers screened positive for depression, and 9.6 to 24% of mothers, with at least a twofold increased prevalence in both parents using MADRS compared with EPDS. We also identified several psychosocial factors associated with perinatal depression in both parents. The data revealed a trend that lower BDNF levels correlated with maternal depressive symptoms at 3 months pp. In the fathers, no significant correlations between BDNF and perinatal depression were found. Pregnant women demonstrated lower BDNF methylation and BDNF protein expression compared with men; however, these were found to increase postpartum. Lastly, we identified correlations between depressive symptoms and psychosocial/neurobiological factors. The data suggest that BDNF may play a role in maternal perinatal depression, but not paternal.

Keywords: BDNF; Gene; Maternal; Paternal; Postnatal depression.

Fig. 1

Proportion of depressed parents (EPDS). The proportion of mothers and fathers that scored ≥ 10 in the EPDS is shown here as a percentage of the whole sample from pregnancy until 12 months postpartum. PP = postpartum

Fig. 2

Proportion of depressed parents (MADRS total score). The proportion of mothers and fathers that scored ≥ 7 in the MADRS is shown here as percentage of the whole sample from pregnancy until 12 months postpartum. PP = postpartum

Fig. 3

Proportion of depressed parents (MADRS without sleep item). The proportion of mothers and fathers that scored ≥ 7 in the MADRS but without the sleep item is shown here as percentage of the whole sample from pregnancy until 12 months postpartum. PP = postpartum

Fig. 4

BDNF gene methylation in sequence 1 between pregnant women and men. Mean percentages of BDNF gene methylation are shown here ± standard deviation. Except in CpG site 1, in all other CpG sites men showed higher methylation levels than pregnant women (Mann–Whitney U tests, all p < 0.004). CpG = ; T0 = baseline visit in pregnancy; W = women; M = men. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.004. * p ≤ 0.004

Fig. 5

BDNF gene methylation in sequence 2 between pregnant women and men. Mean percentages of BDNF gene methylation are shown here ± standard deviation. In CpG sites 3, 6, and 7 men showed significant higher methylation levels than pregnant women (Mann–Whitney U tests, all p < 0.004). CpG = ; T0 = baseline visit in pregnancy; W = women; M = men. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.004. * p ≤ 0.004

Fig. 6

Correlation of depressive symptom with BDNF protein levels in mothers at T1. Correlation of mean levels of BDNF serum concentration and mean EPDS sum scores 3 months pp in mothers is shown. There was a significant negative correlation (Spearman rho correlation − .307, p = 0.027)