Investigating central BDNF expression in an anorexia nervosa-like mouse model: Implications for diagnosis and prognosis

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a multifactorial mental disorder characterized by voluntary food restriction and excessive physical activity leading to dramatic weight loss. The Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BNDF) gene has been associated with AN. In rodents, both central and peripheral BDNF have been found to induce weight loss and anorexic effects. Thus, besides its function in neuronal development and mood, BDNF also acts as a metabolic regulator, making it a candidate biomarker for AN diagnosis. We used C57BL/6J female mice under 2-week 50% food restriction with access to running wheels to mimic the metabolic environment of AN patients. One-week of progressive refeeding and one-day refeeding (binge-eating) were also done. We measured mRNA levels of BDNF and related genes in various brain regions involved in the metabolic and rewarding control of food intake such as prefrontal cortex (PFC), hypothalamus, dorsal striatum (DS) using qPCR and RNA sequencing. To date, we have found a significant decrease in BDNF expression in PFC and DS of food-restricted mice, which persisted in the PFC but disappeared in the DS after progressive refeeding. Although the results suggest the potential of BDNF as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of AN, further investigation is needed to determine whether circulating BDNF levels reflect a detailed BDNF profile.This study is supported by the Fédération pour la Recherche sur le Cerveau.