BDNF levels and liver stiffness in subjects with alcohol use disorder: Evaluation after alcohol withdrawal

ABSTRACT

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in the processes of withdrawal and addiction in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and is also involved in liver homeostasis. The role of BDNF in liver damage and its link with liver stiffness are not known. We hypothesize that serum BDNF levels are linked to changes in hepatic elasticity, both of which depend on variations in alcohol consumption.

Objectives: We aimed to study the evolution of BDNF levels and changes in the liver stiffness (LS) of AUD subjects, within two months following withdrawal.

Methods: We measured LS by FibroScan® (as an indicator of the degree of liver fibrosis), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (as a nonspecific but sensitive marker of liver status) and serum BDNF levels of 62 alcohol-dependent subjects without previously identified liver complications. Measures were obtained at the time of withdrawal (M0) and two months later (M2).

Results: BDNF levels increased after alcohol withdrawal and small variations of LS were observed. BDNF values increased significantly according to fibrosis stages measured by LS (p = .028 at M0), and were predicted by GGT levels in a regression model (p = .007 at M0 and p = .003 at M2).

Conclusion: In AUD, BDNF levels were associated with measured LS when divided into fibrosis risk categories. Changes in LS and BDNF levels after alcohol withdrawal may be related to changes in homeostatic mechanisms, in addition to those of liver status.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use disorder
• alcohol withdrawal
• BDNF
• liver stiffness
• liver fibrosis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank B Plansont, M Bouchareychas, and P Balestrat for the organization of the study and data collection.

Author’s contribution

MG designed the study, organized the coordination, realized the ELISA experiment and the statistical analysis, drafted the manuscript. PN, VLR and PC participated to the draft of the manuscript and the study design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Declarations of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the French Health and Solidarity Minister within the frame of the clinical research hospital program 2011, and the Esquirol Hospital Center of Limoges, France. The company Echosens® participated in lending the FibroScan®. They did not participate in conducting the study, interpreting the data or preparing the manuscript.