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. 2022 Nov 11;59(4):260-267.
doi: 10.29399/npa.28043. eCollection 2022.

Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Nerve Growth Factor, Neurotrophin-3, and Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Children with Specific Learning Disorder

Gökçe Sultan Uncu  1 , Ali Karayağmurlu  2 , Tuba Bilbay Kaynar  3 , Adile Merve Baki  4 , Pervin Vural  4 , Nusret Soylu  2
Affiliations

Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Nerve Growth Factor, Neurotrophin-3, and Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Children with Specific Learning Disorder

Gökçe Sultan Uncu et al. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. .

Abstract

Introduction: Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves complex interactions of genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors, but the definite mechanisms remain mostly unknown. The possible role of neurotrophins has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in children with SLD deviate from those of neurotypical brains.

Methods: Forty-four patients with SLD and 44 healthy controls aged 7--12 years were included. SLD diagnosis and severity was determined using DSM-5-based interviews and SLD clinical observation battery. Serum neurotrophins were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: BDNF (p=0.032), NGF (p=0.029), and NT-3 (p=0.025) serum levels were significantly higher in the SLD group compared to the control group; however, serum levels of GDNF did not show any significant difference between groups. On the other hand, GDNF serum levels were significantly different between mild and severe SLD groups (p=0.007) and were lower in severe SLD subjects than in mild cases. There was also a significant correlation between patients' reading speeds and serum levels of GDNF (p=0.025), and GDNF serum levels were lower in patients with slower reading speeds.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that neurotrophins might play a role in the pathophysiology of SLD. Increased serum levels of BDNF, NGF, and NT-3 might reflect compensatory attempts at neuroprotection against neurodevelopmental impairment.

Keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Specific learning disorder; glial-derived neurotrophic factor; nerve growth factor; neurotrophin 3.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a–d. Box plots representing the distribution of serum BDNF (a), NGF (b), NT-3 (c), and GDNF (d) levels in children with SLD and healthy controls (BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; GDNF: glial-derived neurotrophic factor; NGF: nerve growth factor; NT-3: neurotrophin 3. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons between two groups).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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