title: Update of the NGF saga.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF), initially characterized for its survival and differentiating actions on embryonic sensory and sympathetic neurons, is now known to display a greatly extended spectrum of biological functions. NGF exerts a profound modulatory role on sensory nociceptive nerve physiology during adulthood which appears to correlate with hyperalgesic phenomena occurring in tissue inflammation. Other newly detected NGF-responsive cells belong to the hematopoietic-immune and neuroendocrine systems. In particular, mast cells and NGF both appear to be involved in neuroimmune interactions and tissue inflammation, with NGF acting as a general "alert" molecule capable of recruiting and priming both local tissue and systemic defense processes following stressful events. NGF can thus be viewed as a multifactorial mediator modulating neuroimmune-endocrine functions of vital importance to the regulation of homeostatic interactions, with potential involvement in pathological processes deriving from dysregulation of either local or systemic homeostatic balances.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levi-Montalcini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dal Toso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: della Valle
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Skaper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors