Neurotrophins in skin biology and pathology.
Neurotrophins (NTs) belong to a family of growth factors, which control the development, maintenance, and apoptotic death of neurons and also fulfill multiple regulatory functions outside the nervous system. Biological effects induced by NTs strongly depend on the pattern of NT receptor/co-receptors expression in target cells, as well as on the set of intracellular adaptor molecules that link NT signalling to distinct biochemical pathways. In this review, we summarize data on the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of NTs in the control of non-neuronal functions in normal skin (e.g. keratinocyte proliferation, melanocyte development and apoptosis, hair growth). We also review the data on the role for NTs and their receptors in a number of pathological skin conditions (stress-induced hair loss, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis). Although additional efforts are required to fully understand mechanisms underlying the involvement of NTs and their receptors in controlling functions of normal and pathologically altered skin cells, substantial evidence suggests that modulation of NT signalling by NTs receptor agonists/antagonists may be developed as intervention modalities in distinct skin and hair growth pathologies.
Botchkarev
Vladimir A
VA
Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. vladbotc@bu.edu
Yaar
Mina
M
Peters
Eva M J
EM
Raychaudhuri
Siba P
SP
Botchkareva
Natalia V
NV
Marconi
Alessandra
A
Raychaudhuri
Smriti K
SK
Paus
Ralf
R
Pincelli
Carlo
C
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors