Therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors in Alzheimer’s Disease

• Published in: Molecular biology reports Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 2345 - 2357
• Main Authors: Nasrolahi, Ava, Javaherforooshzadeh, Fatemeh, Jafarzadeh-Gharehziaaddin, Mohsen, Mahmoudi, Javad, Asl, Khadijeh Dizaji, Shabani, Zahra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer disease; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer's disease; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; brain; Cell death; Cognitive ability; cognitive disorders; Dementia disorders; dopamine; elderly; Glial cells; Growth factors; Histology; Humans; Life Sciences; ligands; molecular biology; Morphology; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factors - therapeutic use; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; neuroglia; Neuronal-glial interactions; neurons; Neurotrophic factors; neurotrophins; Older people; Review; therapeutics; Alzheimer’s disease; GDNF; Neurotrophic factors; NGF; BDNF
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06968-9

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia among the elderly population. AD is accompanied with the dysregulation of specific neurotrophic factors (NTFs) and their receptors, which plays a critical role in neuronal degeneration. NTFs are small proteins with therapeutic potential for human neurodegenerative diseases. These growth factors are categorized into four families: neurotrophins, neurokines, the glial cell line-derived NTF family of ligands, and the newly discovered cerebral dopamine NTF/mesencephalic astrocyte-derived NTF family. NTFs are capable of preventing cell death in degenerative conditions and can increase the neuronal growth and function in these disorders. Nevertheless, the adverse side effects of NTFs delivery and poor diffusion of these factors in the brain restrict the efficacy of NTFs therapy in clinical situations. Materials and methods In this review, we focus on the current advances in the use of NTFs to treat AD and summarize previous experimental and clinical studies for supporting the protective and therapeutic effects of these factors. Conclusion Based on reports, NTFs are considered as new and promising candidates for treating AD and AD-associated cognitive impairment.