Tachykinins, neurotrophism and neurodegenerative diseases: a critical review on the possible role of tachykinins in the aetiology of CNS diseases.
The tachykinins are a family of undecapeptides that are widely distributed throughout the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). They have several well defined roles in non-CNS sites as well as in the dorsal horn, where they are involved in the transmission of nociceptive information. However their function(s) in other CNS sites is unclear, but there is some evidence that they function as neuromodulators rather than neurotransmitters. This neuromodulation includes a possible role in maintaining the integrity of neuronal populations, analogous to the functions of neurotrophic factors. This review critically evaluates the role of tachykinins as neurotrophic factors, with particular reference to the common neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS.
Barker
R
R
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, U.K.
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000502:physiology*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015320:Tachykinins