Figure 2

Profiles of expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. (A) Immunoblot analysis of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) isoforms in serum disclosed the presence of the pro-form (32 kD), truncated-form (28 kD) and mature form (14 kD) while plasma disclosed mostly the presence of the BDNF pro-form and truncated-form. The truncated-BDNF form was the only isoform seen in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). (B)The BDNF truncated-form was significantly decreased after treatment with minocycline (P = 0.028) a trend that was observed in six of ten patients (red lines). (C) Although the mature form appeared to be decreased after treatment the difference pre- and post-treatment did not reach significance (P = 0.38). (D) BDNF in CSF measured by multiplexed array technique, which detects mostly the truncated-BNDF isoform, was significantly lowered after treatment (P = 0.042).