Biological effects of TrkA and TrkB receptor signaling in neuroblastoma.
The Trk family consists of three receptor tyrosine kinases, each of which can be activated by one or more of four neurotrophins-NGF, BDNF, NT3 and NT4. Neurotrophins mediate their multiple effects through a number of distinct intracellular signaling cascades regulating such diverse biological responses as cell survival, proliferation and differentiation in normal and neoplastic neuronal cells. Expression of Trk receptors also plays an important role in the biology and clinical behavior of neuroblastomas. High expression of TrkA is present in neuroblastomas with favorable biological features and highly correlated with patient survival, whereas TrkB is mainly expressed on unfavorable, aggressive neuroblastomas. This short review discusses recent data on the biological roles of TrkA and TrkB signaling in neuroblastoma.
Schramm
Alexander
A
Division of Hematology/Oncology and Endocrinology, University Children's Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
Schulte
Johannes H
JH
Astrahantseff
Kathy
K
Apostolov
Ognjan
O
Limpt
Vera van
Vv
Sieverts
Hauke
H
Kuhfittig-Kulle
Steffi
S
Pfeiffer
Petra
P
Versteeg
Rogier
R
Eggert
Angelika
A
D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D020917:Receptor, trkA; D020813:Receptor, trkB