Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stroke outcome

{Stroke outcome is dependent on brain- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent neuroplasticity. As peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) contain BDNF, diapedesis of these cells might be followed by BDNF delivery to the ischemic brain. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the association between BDNF levels in PBMC and functional out-comein patients with ischemic stroke. BDNF was measured in PBMC that were isolated from ischemic stroke patients (n=40) just before (day 0) and after (days 1 and 3) fibrinolysis. Three months after stroke, patients were stratified using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) according to the unfavorable (mRS scores 3- 6) and favorable (mRS scores 0- 2) functional outcome. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regressions to assess the relationship between BDNF levels in PBMC and functional outcome. BDNF levels in PBMC decreased from day 0 to day 3 in patients with unfavorable outcome, while they remained stable in patients with favorable outcome. Patients with favorable outcome exhibited at day 3 higher PBMC- BDNF levels than patients with unfavorable outcome and the levels were associated with good outcome (odd ratio: 12.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.4- 106.2