On the quest for a biomechanism of transsexualism: Is there a role for BDNF?

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Volumn 47, Issue 12, 2013, Pages 2015-2017

  Fuss, Johannes ^a   Biedermann, Sarah V ^a   Stalla, Günter K ^b   Auer, Matthias K ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG   (Germany)

^b MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY   (Germany)

Author keywords

Gender identity disorder; Male to female; Neurobiology; Neuroplasticity; Transgender; Transsexual

Indexed keywords

BRAIN DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR;

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION; ANOREXIA NERVOSA; BIOMECHANICS; BIPOLAR DISORDER; BODY MASS; DEPRESSION; GENDER IDENTITY; HUMAN; INTRAABDOMINAL FAT; LETTER; NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PROTEIN BLOOD LEVEL; SMOKING; THROMBOCYTE COUNT; TRANSSEXUALISM;

GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER; MALE TO FEMALE; NEUROBIOLOGY; NEUROPLASTICITY; TRANSGENDER; TRANSSEXUAL;

BIOLOGICAL MARKERS; BODY MASS INDEX; BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR; FEMALE; GENDER IDENTITY; HUMANS; MALE; TRANSSEXUALISM;

EID: 84886097828     PISSN: 00223956     EISSN: 18791379     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.08.023     Document Type: Letter

References (43)

1. American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 2000, text revision (DSM-IV-TR), American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC. 4th ed.
2. American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 2013, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC, Retrieved from. http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Gender%2520Dysphoria%2520Fact%2520Sheet.pdf, 5th ed.
3. Araya A.V., Orellana X., Godoy D., Soto L., Fiedler J. Effect of exercise on circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in overweight and obese subjects. Hormone and Metabolic Research 2013, 45:541-544.
4. Auer M.K., Fuss J., Stalla G.K., Athanasoulia A. Twenty years of endocrinological treatment in transsexualism: analysing the role of chromosomal analysis and hormonal profiling in the diagnostic work-up. Fertility and Sterility 2013, [ahead of print].
5. Biedermann S., Fuss J., Zheng L., Sartorius A., Falfan-Melgoza C., Demirakca T., et al. Invivo voxel based morphometry: detection of increased hippocampal volume and decreased glutamate levels in exercising mice. Neuroimage 2012, 61:1206-1212.
6. Brunoni A.R., Lopes M., Fregni F. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies on major depression and BDNF levels: implications for the role of neuroplasticity in depression. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 2008, 11:1169-1180.
7. Bus B.A., Molendijk M.L., Penninx B.J., Buitelaar J.K., Kenis G., Prickaerts J., et al. Determinants of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011, 36:228-239.
8. Carlino D., Leone E., Di Cola F., Baj G., Marin R., Dinelli G., et al. Low serum truncated-BDNF isoform correlates with higher cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2010, 45:273-279.
9. Cho H.C., Kim J., Kim S., Son Y.H., Lee N., Jung S.H. The concentrations of serum, plasma and platelet BDNF are all increased by treadmill VO(2)max performance in healthy college men. Neuroscience Letters 2012, 519:78-83.
10. Coleman E., Bockting W., Botzer M., Cohen-Kettenis P., DeCuypere G., Feldman J., et al. Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, version 7. International Journal of Transgenderism 2011, 13:165-232.
11. Colizzi M., Costa R., Pace V., Todarello O. Hormonal treatment reduces psychobiological distress in gender identity disorder, independently of the attachment style. Journal of Sexual Medicine 2013.
12. Deuschle M., Gilles M., Scharnholz B., Lederbogen F., Lang U.E., Hellweg R. Changes of serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during treatment with venlafaxine and mirtazapine: role of medication and response to treatment. Pharmacopsychiatry 2013, 46:54-58.
13. Ehrlich S., Salbach-Andrae H., Eckart S., Merle J.V., Burghardt R., Pfeiffer E., et al. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and peripheral indicators of the serotonin system in underweight and weight-recovered adolescent girls and women with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2009, 34:323-329.
14. El-Gharbawy A.H., Adler-Wailes D.C., Mirch M.C., Theim K.R., Ranzenhofer L., Tanofsky-Kraff M., et al. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations in lean and overweight children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2006, 91:3548-3552.
15. Elbers J., Asscheman H., Seidell J.C., Gooren L.J. Effects of sex steroid hormones on regional fat depots as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in transsexuals. American Journal of Physiology 1999, 276:317-325.
16. Fontanari A.M., Andreazza T., Costa A.B., Salvador J., Koff W.J., Aguiar B., et al. Serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with gender identity disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2013.
17. Fuss J., Ben Abdallah N.M., Hensley F.W., Weber K.J., Hellweg R., Gass P. Deletion of running-induced hippocampal neurogenesis by irradiation prevents development of an anxious phenotype in mice. PLoS One 2010, 5.
18. Fuss J., Ben Abdallah N.M., Vogt M.A., Touma C., Pacifici P.G., Palme R., et al. Voluntary exercise induces anxiety-like behavior in adult C57BL/6J mice correlating with hippocampal neurogenesis. Hippocampus 2010, 20:364-376.
19. Fuss J., Vogt M.A., Weber K.J., Burke T.F., Gass P., Hensler J.G. Hippocampal serotonin-1A receptor function in a mouse model of anxiety induced by long-term voluntary wheel running. Synapse 2013, [ahead of print].
20. Gass P., Hellweg R. Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a biomarker for affective disorders?. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 2010, 13:1-4.
21. Geisel O., Banas R., Hellweg R., Muller C.A. Altered serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with pathological gambling. European Addiction Research 2012, 18:297-301.
22. Gomez-Gil E., Zubiaurre-Elorza L., Esteva I., Guillamon A., Godas T., Cruz Almaraz M., et al. Hormone-treated transsexuals report less social distress, anxiety and depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012, 37:662-670.
23. Griffin E.W., Mullally S., Foley C., Warmington S.A., O'Mara S.M., Kelly A.M. Aerobic exercise improves hippocampal function and increases BDNF in the serum of young adult males. Physiology & Behavior 2011, 104:934-941.
24. Heylens G., Elaut E., Kreukels B.P.C., Paap M.C.S., Cerwenka S., Richter-Appelt H., et al. Psychiatric characteristics in transsexual individuals: multicentre study in four European countries. The British Journal of Psychiatry 2013.
25. Heyman E., Gamelin F.X., Goekint M., Piscitelli F., Roelands B., Leclair E., et al. Intense exercise increases circulating endocannabinoid and BDNF levels in humans - possible implications for reward and depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012, 37:844-851.
26. Jockers-Scherubl M.C., Danker-Hopfe H., Mahlberg R., Selig F., Rentzsch J., Schurer F., et al. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations are increased in drug-naive schizophrenic patients with chronic cannabis abuse and multiple substance abuse. Neuroscience Letters 2004, 371:79-83.
27. Kapczinski F., Frey B.N., Kauer-Sant'Anna M., Grassi-Oliveira R. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuroplasticity in bipolar disorder. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 2008, 8:1101-1113.
28. Karege F., Bondolfi G., Gervasoni N., Schwald M., Aubry J.M., Bertschy G. Low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in serum of depressed patients probably results from lowered platelet BDNF release unrelated to platelet reactivity. Biological Psychiatry 2005, 57:1068-1072.
29. Kohlberg L.A. A cognitive-developmental analysis of children's sex role concepts and attitudes. The development of sex differences 1966, 82-173. Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
30. Kohler S., Klimke S., Hellweg R., Lang U.E. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor concentrations change after alcohol withdrawal: preliminary data of a case-control comparison. European Addiction Research 2013, 19:98-104.
31. Lang U.E., Hellweg R., Gallinat J. BDNF serum concentrations in healthy volunteers are associated with depression-related personality traits. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004, 29:795-798.
32. Lapauw B., Taes Y., Simoens S., Van Caenegem E., Weyers S., Goemaere S., et al. Body composition, volumetric and areal bone parameters in male-to-female transsexual persons. Bone 2008, 43:1016-1021.
33. Molendijk M.L., Spinhoven P., Polak M., Bus B.A., Penninx B.W., Elzinga B.M. Serum BDNF concentrations as peripheral manifestations of depression: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analyses on 179 associations (N=9484). Molecular Psychiatry 2013, [ahead of print].
34. Pillai A., Bruno D., Sarreal A.S., Hernando R.T., Saint-Louis L.A., Nierenberg J., et al. Plasma BDNF levels vary in relation to body weight in females. PLoS One 2012, 7:e39358.
35. Rossi C., Angelucci A., Costantin L., Braschi C., Mazzantini M., Babbini F., et al. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for the enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis following environmental enrichment. European Journal of Neuroscience 2006, 24:1850-1856.
36. Roth C.L., Elfers C., Gebhardt U., Muller H.L., Reinehr T. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its relation to leptin in obese children before and after weight loss. Metabolism 2013, 62:226-234.
37. Santarelli L., Saxe M., Gross C., Surget A., Battaglia F., Dulawa S., et al. Requirement of hippocampal neurogenesis for the behavioral effects of antidepressants. Science 2003, 301:805-809.
38. Sartorius A., Hellweg R., Litzke J., Vogt M., Dormann C., Vollmayr B., et al. Correlations and discrepancies between serum and brain tissue levels of neurotrophins after electroconvulsive treatment in rats. Pharmacopsychiatry 2009, 42:270-276.
39. Savic I., Garcia-Falgueras A., Swaab D.F. Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. Progress in Brain Research 2010, 186:41-62.
40. Schneider H.J., Pickel J., Stalla G.K. Typical female 2nd-4th finger length (2D:4D) ratios in male-to-female transsexuals-possible implications for prenatal androgen exposure. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006, 31:265-269.
41. Strohle A., Stoy M., Graetz B., Scheel M., Wittmann A., Gallinat J., et al. Acute exercise ameliorates reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with panic disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2010, 35:364-368.
42. van Praag H., Kempermann G., Gage F.H. Running increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the adult mouse dentate gyrus. Nature Neuroscience 1999, 2:266-270.
43. Ziegenhorn A.A., Schulte-Herbrüggen O., Danker-Hopfe H., Malbranc M., Hartung H.D., Anders D., et al. Serum neurotrophins - a study on the time course and influencing factors in a large old age sample. Neurobiology of Aging 2007, 28:1436-1445.