| 1. |
- Bryn, V., et al.
(author)
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Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in childhood
- 2015
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In: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-3798. ; 19:4, s. 411-414
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Neurotrophic factors are essential regulators of neuronal maturation including synaptic synthesis. Among those, Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been in particular focus in the understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate whether BNDF could be used as diagnostic/biological marker for ASD. For this purpose we examined the plasma levels of BDNF and the precursors pro- BDNF in patients with ASD and compared it with non-autistic controls; determined whether there was a correlation between the BDNF and proBDNF levels and clinical severity. We also investigated the coding region of BDNF identify for well-variations which could be associated to ASD. Methods: The 65 ASD patients (51 boys) were enrolled from a recent completed epidemiological survey covering two counties (Oppland and Hedmark) in Norway. The mean age of the total number of children who participated in this study was 11,7 years. 30 non-autistic children were included as controls, 14 boys and 16 girls. The mean age was 11.3 years. Exclusion criteria for control group were individuals suffering from either neurological, endocrine, or immune insuffiency. Results and conclusions: Patients with ASD were characterized by moderately but significantly elevated plasma levels of BDNF compared to matched controls. No differences were observed in the proBDNF level between patients and controls. Within the ASD group, children with intellectual disability demonstrated increased BDNF, but not proBDNF levels, while the presence of ADHD had no impact on circulating proBDNF or BDNF. No further associations between plasma proBDNF or BDNF and other clinical demographics were observed. (C) 2015 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Kolkova, K, et al.
(author)
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Distinct roles of PKC isoforms in NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth
- 2005
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In: Journal of Neurochemistry. - : Wiley. - 1471-4159 .- 0022-3042. ; 92:4, s. 886-894
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-mediated neurite outgrowth was tested using a co-culture system consisting of fibroblasts with or without NCAM expression upon which either primary cerebellar granular neurones (CGN) or pheochromocytoma (PC12-E2) cells were grown. The latter transiently expressed various PKC isoforms and domains derived from selected PKCs. PKC inhibitors of various specificity inhibited NCAM-stimulated neuritogenesis from CGN, indicating that PKC is involved in this process. Moreover, stimulation by the NCAM-mimetic peptide, C3d, elicited phosphorylation of PKC in CGN. Expression of kinase-deficient forms of PKCalpha, betaI and betaII blocked NCAM-mediated neurite extension, but had no effect on nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth. Expression of two PKCepsilon constructs: (i) a fragment from PKCepsilon encompassing the pseudosubstrate, the C1a domain (including the actin-binding site, ABS), and parts of the V3 region, or (ii) the PKCepsilon-specific ABS blocked NCAM-mediated neurite extension in both cases. These two constructs also partially inhibited NGF-stimulated neuritogenesis indicating that PKCepsilon is a positive regulator of both NCAM- and NGF-mediated differentiation. We suggest that PKCepsilon is a common downstream mediator for several neuritogenic factors, whereas one or more conventional PKCs are specifically involved in NCAM-stimulated neurite outgrowth.
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