Biomaterial Database

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) epigenomic modifications and brain-related phenotypes in humans: A systematic review. 2023

Amery Treble-Barna, and Lacey W Heinsberg, and Zachary Stec, and Stephen Breazeale, and Tara S Davis, and Aboli A Kesbhat, and Ansuman Chattopadhyay, and Helena M VonVille, and Andrea M Ketchum, and Keith Owen Yeates, and Patrick M Kochanek, and Daniel E Weeks, and Yvette P Conley

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: amery.treble-barna@pitt.edu.

Epigenomic modifications of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene have been postulated to underlie the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurological conditions. This systematic review summarizes current evidence investigating the association of BDNF epigenomic modifications (DNA methylation, non-coding RNA, histone modifications) with brain-related phenotypes in humans. A novel contribution is our creation of an open access web-based application, the BDNF DNA Methylation Map, to interactively visualize specific positions of CpG sites investigated across all studies for which relevant data were available. Our literature search of four databases through September 27, 2021 returned 1701 articles, of which 153 met inclusion criteria. Our review revealed exceptional heterogeneity in methodological approaches, hindering the identification of clear patterns of robust and/or replicated results. We summarize key findings and provide recommendations for future epigenomic research. The existing literature appears to remain in its infancy and requires additional rigorous research to fulfill its potential to explain BDNF-linked risk for brain-related conditions and improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D057890	Epigenomics	The systematic study of the global gene expression changes due to EPIGENETIC PROCESSES and not due to DNA base sequence changes.	Epigenetics,Epigenetic,Epigenomic
D019175	DNA Methylation	Addition of methyl groups to DNA. DNA methyltransferases (DNA methylases) perform this reaction using S-ADENOSYLMETHIONINE as the methyl group donor.	DNA Methylations,Methylation, DNA,Methylations, DNA
D019208	Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor	A member of the nerve growth factor family of trophic factors. In the brain BDNF has a trophic action on retinal, cholinergic, and dopaminergic neurons, and in the peripheral nervous system it acts on both motor and sensory neurons. (From Kendrew, The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994)	BDNF,Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor,Factor, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic,Neurotrophic Factor, Brain-Derived