Trophic factor response to neuronal stimuli or injury

• Published in: Current opinion in neurobiology Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 350 - 357
• Main Author: Isackson, Paul J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Fibroblast Growth Factors - physiology; Hippocampus - physiology; Nerve Tissue - injuries; Neurons - physiology; Neurotransmitter Agents - physiology; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; CNQX—6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; APV—2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate; bFGF—basic FGF; GDNF—glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; NMDA— N-methyl- d-aspartate; BDNF—brain-derived neurotrophic factor; icv—intracerebroventricular; GABA—γ-aminobutyric acid; (1S,3R)-ACPD—(1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane 1,3-dicarboxylic acid; NT—neurotrophin; NGF—nerve growth factor; TGFß—transforming growth factor β; TNFα—tumor necrosis factor α; FGF—fibroblast growth factor; IGF—insulin-like growth factor
• ISSN: 0959-4388; 1873-6882
• DOI: 10.1016/0959-4388(95)80048-4

Neurotrophic factors are produced by CNS neurons, and have both paracrine and autocrine activities. In nerve cells, expression of neurotrophic factors is regulated by physiological afferent activity, which implies that these factors play a role in activity-dependent plasticity and survival. Neurotrophic factor levels are also altered following injury, which suggests that they play a part in the neurodegenerative response and synaptic reorganization as well. Recent studies have examined extensively the regulation and functional roles of the neurotrophin family, and have also identified other neurotrophic factors present in brain that are regulated by different, as well as similar mechanisms.