Significantly lower nerve growth factor levels in patients with major depressive disorder than in healthy subjects: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Yen-Wen Chen, Pao-Yen Lin, Kun-Yu Tu, Yu-Shian Cheng, Ching-Kuan Wu, Ping-Tao Tseng, Yen-Wen Chen, Pao-Yen Lin, Kun-Yu Tu, Yu-Shian Cheng, Ching-Kuan Wu, Ping-Tao Tseng

Abstract

Introduction: Since its discovery several decades ago, nerve growth factor (NGF) has been found to play roles in different areas, such as neurology, endocrinology, and immunology. There is some evidence linking NGF and psychiatry, including the role of NGF in subjects' response to stress, the alteration of NGF in different emotional states, and the penetration of NGF across the blood-brain barrier under specific conditions. There are many inconsistent findings regarding the differences in NGF in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) at the present time. The aim of our study was to clarify whether NGF levels are different in MDD compared with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: We conducted a thorough literature search and compared peripheral NGF levels between MDD and HC through meta-analysis, and investigated possible confounding variables through meta-regression.

Results: Seven studies were brought into the current meta-analysis comparing peripheral NGF in MDD and HCs. The main result was that the NGF levels were significantly lower in MDD than in HCs and that this had an inverse correlation with mean age and disease severity. In addition, meta-analysis of four articles found that the peripheral NGF levels did not change significantly before and after treatment.

Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant differences in peripheral NGF levels in patients with MDD. However, further exploration of the dynamic changes in peripheral NGF along with the disease course, and specific studies investigating the correlation of NGF in the peripheral and CNS environments are still needed.

Keywords: NGF; mood disorder; neurotrophic factor; psychiatry.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the selection strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Abbreviations: NGF, nerve growth factor; MDD, major depressive disorder; HC, healthy control.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Forest plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD and in HCs. (B) Funnel plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD and in HCs. Notes: *The report by Pallavi et al also contained data of subjects who were in a “drug-free” state. P<0.05. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HCs, healthy controls; MDD, major depressive disorder; NGF, nerve growth factor.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD before and after treatment. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MDD, major depressive disorder; NGF, nerve growth factor.

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