Neurotrophin-4/5 is a mammalian-specific survival factor for distinct populations of sensory neurons.
We have studied the effect of human recombinant neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) on the survival of developing PNS neurons from embryonic mice and chickens. NT-4/5 transiently supported mouse NGF-dependent trigeminal and jugular neurons at early stages of target field innervation and mouse brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent no-dose neurons during the phase of naturally occurring cell death. NT-4/5 was as potent as BDNF in supporting the survival of these neuronal populations. Surprisingly, NT-4/5 was 3 orders of magnitude less potent than BDNF as a survival factor for early chick dorsomedial trigeminal sensory neurons and did not support the survival of chick BDNF-dependent trigeminal mesencephalic or ventrolateral trigeminal sensory neurons at any of the developmental stages tested. Thus, NT-4/5 is a survival factor for certain embryonic mouse cranial sensory neurons. It is the first species-specific neurotrophin to be identified and it can discriminate at high concentrations between different BDNF-responsive chick neurons.
Davies
A M
AM
School of Biological and Medical Sciences, St. Andrews University, Fife, Scotland.
Horton
A
A
Burton
L E
LE
Schmelzer
C
C
Vandlen
R
R
Rosenthal
A
A
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016466:CHO Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C071951:neurotrophin 5; C073922:neurotrophin 4