Clinical potential of growth factors in neurological disorders
J. Winkler
Bok Engelsk
| Utgitt | LJ Thal Univ Calif San Diego Dept Neurosci 9
|
|---|---|
| Opplysninger | Growth (or neurotrophic) factors promote the differentiation, growth and survival of numerous peripheral and central nervous system neurons during development and adulthood. During the last decade, significant advances have been made in understanding the biological role of these compounds. These advances have produced converging lines of evidence that support the use of neurotrophic factors in neurodegenerative diseases. The molecular characteristics, regulation and signalling mechanisms for a number of trophic molecules have been identified. The most therapeutically promising of these molecules are nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin- like growth factor-I (IGF-I, somatomedin-l). The responsiveness of neuronal subpopulations to different neurotrophic factors has been established in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. Animal models have been developed that are useful for the analysis of degenerative pathogenetic mechanisms, and enable the testing of neurotrophic factor therapy to prevent the degeneration of lesioned and diseased neurons. Available data suggest that neurotrophic factors may play a therapeutic role in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
|
| Emner | |
| ISSN |
