Journal article

Peripheral vascular endothelial growth factor as a novel depression biomarker: A meta-analysis

AF Carvalho, CA Köhler, RS McIntyre, C Knöchel, AR Brunoni, ME Thase, J Quevedo, BS Fernandes, M Berk

Psychoneuroendocrinology | Published : 2015

Abstract

Background: The neurotrophic hypothesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) postulates that the pathology of this illness incorporates a down-regulation of neurotrophin signaling. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most studied neurotrophic mediator regarding the neurobiology of MDD. Nevertheless, emerging evidence has implicated the multi-competent angiogenic and neurogenic molecule - vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - in hippocampal neurogenesis and depression pathophysiology. Objective: To compare peripheral levels of VEGF between individuals with MDD and healthy controls. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of original studies measuring periph..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by University of Texas Medical School at Houston


Funding Acknowledgements

AFC and JQ are recipients of research fellowship awards from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq; Brazil). CAK is the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship award from CAPES (Brazil). BSF is supported by a postdoctoral scholarship and by a research grant MCTI/CNPQ/Universal 14/2014461833/2014-0, both from CNPq, Brazil. MB is supported by a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1059660. Laboratory of Neurosciences (Brazil) is one of the centers of the National Institute for Molecular Medicine (INCT-MM) and one of the members of the Center of Excellence in Applied Neurosciences of Santa Catarina (NENASC). This research was supported by grants from CNPq (JQ and AFC), FAPESC (A), Instituto Cerebro e Mente (JQ) and UNESC (JQ). Center for Experimental Models in Psychiatry (USA) is funded by Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.