Altered Gene Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Receptor Tyrosine Kinase B in Postmortem Brain of Suicide Subjects

The present study was performed to examine whether the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) &/or activating receptor tyrosine kinase B (trk B) isoforms was altered in postmortem brain in subjects who complete suicide & whether these alterations were associated with specific psychopathologic conditions. Message RNA levels of BDNF & trk B were significantly reduced in both prefrontal cortex & hippocampus in suicide subjects. Implications of these findings are discussed. (66 refs)