Difference of Serum BDNF Levels Between Schizophrenic Patients with Smoking in Batak Male and Controls

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder, generally affects approximately 1% of the world population but the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is still unclear. Accumulating evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Use of nicotine associated with upregulation of BDNF in the serum. Based on the higher smoking rates among schizophrenic patients and the close relationship between nicotine and BDNF, as well as the repeatedly found alternations of BDNF levels in schizophrenia, many studies have suggested that smoking could play a role in the altered BDNF levels of schizophrenic patients. Aims: To determine the difference of serum BDNF levels among schizophrenia and non schizophrenia smoking in Batak male. Methods: Serum BDNF levels were measured in 68 Batak males, who smoke (34 subjects with chronic schizophrenia, which was diagnosed with MINI-ICD X and 34 subjects non schizophrenia as controls), all subjects were aged 20-60 years old, did not suffer from other mental disorders, neurologic disease, and no history of alcohol and other substances except tobacco. Serum BDNF was analyzed with the Quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique by the use of Quantikine ELISA Human CXCL8/IL-8 HS (R&D Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, USA). Results: The serum BDNF levels were lower in the schizophrenic patients with smoking in Batak males than in the control subjects, reaching statistically (26.228±5.722.5 pg/ml) vs (33.148±7.290.4 pg/ml). Conclusion: There is a significant difference in serum BDNF levels between schizophrenic patients with smoking in Batak males and controls.