Neurotrophins and their receptors--current concepts and implications for neurologic disease.
Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4/5 are members of a family of proteins (the neurotrophins) that promote the differentiation, growth, and survival of peripheral and central nervous system neurons. Recently, the trk family of proto-oncogenes has been found to encode signal-transducing receptors for these growth factors. This discovery has important implications for our understanding of the normal function of these factors in the developing and adult nervous system. In this review, we highlight recent advances in neurotrophin research and discuss their relevance to neurologic disease.
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Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0724.
Lowenstein
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Reichardt
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D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor