[Neurotrophic factors and their importance in attention deficit hyperactivity disorde]

Rev Neurol. 2014 Feb 24:58 Suppl 1:S19-24.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The existing literature that reports findings linked with the involvement of neurotrophic factors in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is reviewed. Neurotrophins, a family of neurotrophic factors, are a kind of proteins that are specific to the nervous system and play an essential role in neuron survival, differentiation and proliferation during the development of the central and peripheral nervous system. These molecules stimulate axonal growth and exert an influence on the connections with the target tissue in order to establish the synaptic connections. The study of neurotrophins in ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is of interest mainly due to the functions that these proteins perform in the central nervous system. Studies on animal, pharmacological and molecular genetic models yield evidence that relates neurotrophins with the disorder. This work reviews the results from the studies conducted to date on ADHD and neurotrophic factors, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thus, although pharmacological studies suggest that the response to atomoxetine in adults with ADHD is not directly mediated by the effect on the BDNF, reductions in BDNF levels in the plasma of adult patients with ADHD have been reported. Further studies with broader samples and greater control of environmental factors that can regulate neurotrophin expression, such as diet, physical exercise and situations of social risk, are needed to be able to determine the role they play in the aetiology of ADHD.

Title: Factores neurotroficos y su trascendencia en el trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad.

Se revisa la bibliografia existente sobre los hallazgos de la implicacion de los factores neurotroficos en el trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (TDAH). Las neurotrofinas, una familia de factores neurotroficos, son un tipo de proteinas especificas del sistema nervioso con un papel esencial en la supervivencia, diferenciacion y proliferacion neuronal durante el desarrollo del sistema nervioso central y periferico. Estas moleculas estimulan el crecimiento axonal e influyen en las conexiones con el tejido diana para el establecimiento de las conexiones sinapticas. El interes por el estudio de las neurotrofinas en el TDAH, un trastorno del neurodesarrollo, deriva principalmente de las funciones que estas proteinas ejercen en el sistema nervioso central. Existen evidencias derivadas de estudios en modelos animales, farmacologicos y de genetica molecular que relacionan a las neurotrofinas con el trastorno. En el presente trabajo se revisan los resultados de los estudios realizados hasta el momento sobre TDAH y factores neurotroficos, principalmente factor neurotrofico derivado de cerebro (BDNF). Asi, aunque estudios farmacologicos sugieren que la respuesta a la atomoxetina en adultos con TDAH no esta directamente mediada por el efecto sobre el BDNF, se han descrito disminuciones en los niveles plasmaticos de BDNF en pacientes adultos con TDAH. Se requieren estudios con muestras mas amplias y mayor control de factores ambientales que pueden regular la expresion de la neurotrofinas, como la dieta, el ejercicio fisico y situaciones de riesgo social, con el fin de determinar el papel de estas en la etiologia del TDAH.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / metabolism
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / deficiency
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / physiology
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nerve Growth Factors / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
  • Point Mutation
  • Receptor, trkB / drug effects
  • Receptor, trkB / genetics
  • Synapses / physiology

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • BDNF protein, human
  • Receptor, trkB