title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
abstract: Since the purification of BDNF in 1982, a great deal of evidence has mounted for its central roles in brain development, physiology, and pathology. Aside from its importance in neural development and cell survival, BDNF appears essential to molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Basic activity-related changes in the central nervous system are thought to depend on BDNF modification of synaptic transmission, especially in the hippocampus and neocortex. Pathologic levels of BDNF-dependent synaptic plasticity may contribute to conditions such as epilepsy and chronic pain sensitization, whereas application of the trophic properties of BDNF may lead to novel therapeutic options in neurodegenerative diseases and perhaps even in neuropsychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, M779 Moffitt Hospital, Box 0112, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0112, USA. dbinder@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Devin K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Helen E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Scharfman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008568:Memory; D008954:Models, Biological; D019579:Neocortex / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger