Tag Archives: brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cells injection attenuates neuronal apoptosis and enhances cognitive recovery after moderate traumatic brain injury in rats
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1Neurosurgery Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia;
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Udayana,
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia;
3Department of Neurosurgery, Airlangga University Teaching Hospital,
Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia;
4Neurosurgical Residency Program, Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia;
*e-mail: febby_pratama@unud.ac.id
Received: 25 January 2026; Revised: 30 March 2026;
Accepted: 29 May 2026; Available on-line: 18 June 2026
Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. The secondary brain injury phase, which develops hours to days after primary trauma, is a critical therapeutic window for therapeutic interventions, however, no available therapy has been proven effective. Objective. To estimate the effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) therapy on neuronal apoptosis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, and cognitive function in a rat model of moderate TBI. Methods. AD-MSCs from rat adipose tissue were isolated and analyzed using standardized techniques. Adult male Wistar rats were anesthetized, a left-sided craniectomy was performed and a moderate traumatic brain injury was induced by releasing a metal cylinder through a guiding tube. Following the impact, the incision was closed using absorbable sutures. At 24 hours following TBI, eight microinjections each consisting of 2·105 AD-MSCs in 5 µl PBS were administered in the pericontusional cortex. Control animals received equivalent volumes of sterile saline. Animals were euthanized on 7th or 14th day and the brain was collected for analysis. At the time point prior to euthanasia, rats underwent cognitive testing. Apoptotic index was evaluated by TUNEL assay, BDNF level by ELISA, cognitive performance by Barnes maze test. Results. Macroscopic brain examination revealed enhanced cortical regeneration and vascularization in AD-MSCs treated rats compared with controls. The apoptotic index was significantly lower in the AD-MSCs group on both 7th and 14th days. Cognitive performance improved markedly in the AD-MSCs group, with shorter escape times in the Barnes maze on both 7th and 14th days. In contrast, BDNF levels did not differ between groups at either time point. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate both neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of AD-MSCs and highlight its administration as a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating secondary brain injury after TBI.
Plasma levels of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are not significantly altered in posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury
A. Shcherbakova1, D. Martsenkovskyi2, D. Stroy3, A. Savchenko4,
K. Vosnitsyna5, O. Sulaieva1, O. Dudin1, V. Dosenko3
1Medical Laboratory CSD LAB;
2Department of Psychiatry, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine;
3Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, National A cademy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
4Scientific and Medical Center “Doslid” (LLC “Medical Research”), Kyiv, Ukraine;
5State Institution Veteran Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center Forest Glade Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine;
e-mail: anna82201@gmail.com
Received: 04 April 2025; Revised: 12 May 2025;
Accepted: 11 June 2025; Available on-line: 07 July 2025
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are common consequences of combat exposure, significantly affecting both mental and physical health of military personnel. Identifying reliable biomarkers for these conditions is critical for timely diagnosis, monitoring of treatment effectiveness, and prediction of the disease course. The results of recent studies suggesting potential role of PACAP and BDNF in peripheral blood as biomarkers for PTSD have been yet unconclusive. In this study we analyzed the level of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the blood plasma of 450 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine divided into six groups based on their diagnosis: controls, PTSD, PTSD with TBI, TBI, complex PTSD (CPTSD), CPTSD with TBI. PTSD and CPTSD were diagnosed using the International Trauma Interview, and TBI using the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. PACAP and BDNF levels were analyzed in the the fasting blood samples using ELISA. PACAP and BDNF levels in blood plasma in control group were 2.10 ± 0.26 and 5.13 ± 0.50 ng/ml, respectively. The study findings revealed no statistically significant differences in PACAP and BDNF levels among the study groups. The results obtained indicate potential limitations of using these biomarkers for stress disorders and TBI diagnosing in combat-exposed military populations and highlight the need for further research to identify reliable biomarkers with objective diagnostic value and prognostic significance.