Defects in tongue papillae and taste sensation indicate a problem with neurotrophic support in various neurological diseases.
Neurotrophic support of developing neurons by neurotrophins is of critical importance in the development of fungiform papillae and taste buds. A number of neurological disorders show a decrease or increase in fungiform papillae or taste sensation. These can be grouped into disorders with reduced papillae (Machado-Joseph disease, Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome, familial dysautonomia, dystonia musculorum, and Behçet's disease) and those with taste defects only (Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV, and diabetes mellitus). In addition, Parkinson's disease results in increased taste sensation. Here, we hypothesize that the main problem in these disorders is either not enough or too much neurotrophic support. Proneurotrophic drugs such as some antidepressants and aldose reductase inhibitors may prove useful in the treatment of these sensory and central nervous system disorders. Similarly, antineurotrophic drugs may also be useful in Parkinson's disease. Here we show that the protein involved in familial dysautonomia, IKAP, localizes to keratin filaments in HeLa cells, suggesting a role for the keratin cytoskeleton in neurotrophic support.
Gardiner
John
J
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. jgardiner@mail.usyd.edu.au
Barton
Deborah
D
Vanslambrouck
Jessica May
JM
Braet
Filip
F
Hall
David
D
Marc
Jan
J
Overall
Robyn
R
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020271:Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C114720:Elp1 protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; D007633:Keratins