title: Neurotrophic factors and their effects in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Neurotrophins are small molecules of polypeptides, which include nerve growth factor (NGF) family, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands, and neuropoietic cytokines. These factors have an important role in neural regeneration, remyelination, and regulating the development of the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS, respectively) by intracellular signaling through specific receptors. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative disorders may be due to an alteration in the neurotrophic factors and their receptors. The use of neurotrophic factors as therapeutic agents is a novel strategy for restoring and maintaining neuronal function during neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to pathology of neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, autoimmune and mesenchymal stem cells, by the release of neurotrophic factors, have the ability to protect neuronal population and can efficiently suppress the formation of new lesions. So, these cells may be an alternative source for delivering neurotrophic factors into the CNS.
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Shahnaz
authors: S
authors: Razavi
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Ghasemi
authors: G
authors: Nazem
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Mardani
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Ebrahim
authors: E
authors: Esfandiari
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Salehi
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Sayyed Hamid Zarkesh
authors: SH
authors: Esfahani
keywords: Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor family ligand; multiple sclerosis; nerve growth factor family; neuropoietic cytokines