Therapeutic potentials for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) based upon pharmacological activities in the CNS.
Since the discovery of the novel neurotrophic factor GDNF in 1993 [25], the molecule has received a great deal of attention from neuroscientists studying all aspects of neurotrophic factor physiology and pharmacology. GDNF instantly became a focus of basic research when it was discovered that GDNF was a potent neurotrophic factor for at least two diverse neuronal populations including dopaminergic neurons and motor neurons [25,47] magnitude. A comprehensive review of the pharmacology of GDNF and hypotheses concerning its possible clinical uses is presented. Based upon our current knowledge of GDNF's pharmacology, it appears that the molecule may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), other motor neuron diseases (MND) and cholinergic deficit-related dementia.
Amgen Inc., Department of Neuroscience, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1789, USA.
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Lapchak
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006801:Humans; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D051379:Mice; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats
C495039:GDNF protein, human; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016627:Oxidopamine; D004298:Dopamine