Interaction of sex steroid hormones and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-tyrosine kinase B signalling: relevance to schizophrenia and depression

J Neuroendocrinol. 2012 Dec;24(12):1553-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2012.02365.x.

Abstract

Sex steroid hormones and neurotrophic factors are involved in pruning and shaping the developing brain and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Sex steroid hormones are also involved in the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. A review of the literature is provided on the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and sex steroid hormones, as well as the mechanisms behind this interaction, in the context of how this relationship may be involved in the development of neurodevelopmental psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / physiology*
  • Depression* / blood
  • Depression* / genetics
  • Depression* / metabolism
  • Epistasis, Genetic / physiology
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / metabolism
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / pharmacology
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Receptor, trkB / genetics
  • Receptor, trkB / metabolism
  • Receptor, trkB / physiology*
  • Schizophrenia* / blood
  • Schizophrenia* / genetics
  • Schizophrenia* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Receptor, trkB