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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Mood Disorders
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1476248

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) plasma levels in Major Depressive Disorder: a brief research report

Provisionally accepted
Carlos Fernández-Pereira Carlos Fernández-Pereira 1María d. Fernández-Ceballos María d. Fernández-Ceballos 1José M. Olivares José M. Olivares 2Jose M. Prieto-González Jose M. Prieto-González 1*Roberto C. Agís-Balboa Roberto C. Agís-Balboa 1*
  • 1 Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • 2 Research group of Translational Neuroscience, Neurociencias y Enfermedades Psiquiátricas, Instituto de Investigación en Salud de Galicia Sur (IISGS), Vigo, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Peripheral neurofilament light chain (NfL) reflect neuronal and axonal damage. Most studies have been focused on NfL cerebrospinal fluid measures since peripheral levels were difficult to detect. However, with recent advent of single molecule array (SIMOA) technology, NfL is now detectable peripherally at small concentrations (pg/ml). In neurodegenerative disorders, NfL peripheral levels have been found significantly elevated compared against psychiatric disorders. However, there is still controversy of whether NfL peripheral levels might be altered in psychiatric disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) when compared against a normal population.Methods: We have measured NfL plasma levels by using single molecule array (SIMOA) technology in a Spanish small cohort of MDD patients (n = 15) and a HC group (n = 15). We have used subjective scales to estimate depression severity (HDRS), anhedonia (SAAS), the general cognitive state (MMSE) and episodic memory (FCSRT) in MDD patients.Results: We have not detected a significant alteration in NfL plasma levels in MDD patients when compared against the HC subjects (U = 97, p-value = 0.532). Moreover, we have not detected any significant correlation between NfL plasma levels with any subjective scales. The only parameter that significantly and positively correlated with NfL plasma levels was age in both MDD and HC. Con formato: Español (España) Código de campo cambiado Con formato: Español (España) Con formato: Español (España) Con formato: Inglés (Reino Unido) Código de campo cambiado Con formato: Inglés (Reino Unido) Con formato: Inglés (Reino Unido) Discussion: Significant alteration in NfL plasma levels in MDD patients might reflect neurobiological changes behind the predisposition to develop future neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases for which depression represents a risk factor. However, whether there is an increase in NfL due to MDD regardless of the ageing process is still a matter of debate.

    Keywords: neurofilament light chain, Major Depressive Disorder, Plasma, Cognition, Anhedonia; Memory

    Received: 05 Aug 2024; Accepted: 28 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Fernández-Pereira, Fernández-Ceballos, Olivares, Prieto-González and Agís-Balboa. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Jose M. Prieto-González, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
    Roberto C. Agís-Balboa, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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