The Multiple Life of Nerve Growth Factor: Tribute to Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)

Year 2013, Volume: 2013 Issue: 1, 4 - 7, 01.01.2013

Luigi Aloe George N. Chaldakov

Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, it was envisaged by Santiago Ramon y Cajal, but not, proven, that life at the neuronal level requires trophic support. The proof was obtained in the early 1950's by work initiated by Rita Levi-Montalcini (RLM) discovering the nerve growth factor (NGF). Today, NGF and its relatives, collectively designated neurotrophins, are well recognized as mediators of multiple biological phenomena in health and disease, ranging from the neurotrophic through immunotrophic and epitheliotrophic to metabotrophic effects. Consequently, NGF and other neurotrophins are implicated in the pathogenesis of a large spectrum of neuronal and non-neuronal diseases, from Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases to atherosclerosis and other cardiometabolic diseases. Recent studies demonstrated the therapeutic potentials of NGF in these diseases, including ocular and cutaneous diseases. Furthermore, NGF TrkA receptor antagonists emerged as novel drugs for pain, prostate and breast cancer, melanoma, and urinary bladder syndromes. Altogether, NGF's multiple potential in health and disease is briefly described here. Turkish Başlık: Sinir Büyüme Faktörünün Çok Yönlü Yaşamı: Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012) Anısına Anahtar Kelimeler: Sinir büyüme faktörü, TrkA, p75NTR, nöronal hücreler, nöronal olmayan hücreler, hastalık, terapi 19. yüzyılın sonunda Santiago Ramon y Cajal tarafından, nöronal düzeyde yaşamın tropik destek gerektirdiği öngörüldü, fakat kanıtlanmadı. Kanıt 1950'lerin başında Rita Levi-Montalcini (RLM) tarafından sinir büyüme faktörü (NGF)'nün keşfi ile başlatılan çalışmada elde edildi. Bugün, NGF ve onun benzerleri, topluca nötropinler olarak tanımlanır; hastalıkta ve sağlıkta, nötropikten immunotropik ve epiteliotropik ile metabotropik etkiye kadar uzanan çok yönlü biyolojik fenomen mediatörleri olarak iyi tanımlanmışlardır. Sonuç olarak NGF ve diğer nötropinler Alzheimer ve diğer nörodejeneratif hastalıklardan ateroskleroza ve diğer kardiyometabolik hastalıklara kadar nöronal olan ve olmayan geniş bir hastalık spektrumunun patogenezinde yer almaktadır. Son çalışmalar, oküler ve kütanöz hastalıklar dahil, bu hastalıklarda NGF'nin terapötik potansiyelini gösterdi. Dahası, NGF TrkA reseptör antagonistleri ağrı, prostat ve meme kanseri, melanom ve üriner mesane sendromları için yeni ilaçlar olarak ortaya çıktılar. Tüm yönleriyle, sağlıkta ve hastalıkta NGF'nin çok yönlü potansiyeli burada kısaca tanımlanmaktadır.

Keywords

Nerve growth factor, TrkA, p75NTR, neuronal cells, non-neuronal cells, disease, therapy

The Multiple Life of Nerve Growth Factor: Tribute to Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)

Abstract

References

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