title: Nerve growth factor and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D): a potential therapeutic target?
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with abnormal bowel habits. Diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) is a major subtype of IBS, the predominant manifestations of which are abdominal pain and diarrhea. The pathogenesis of IBS-D remained unknown until recently. The effects of psychosocial stress, central hypervigilance, neuroendocrine abnormality, disturbed gastrointestinal motility, mucosal immune activation, intestinal barrier dysfunction, visceral hypersensitivity (VH), altered gut flora, and genetic susceptibility may be involved in its development. Recently, increased attention has been placed on the neural-immune-endocrine network mechanism in IBS-D, especially the role of various neuroendocrine mediators. As a member of the neurotrophin family, nerve growth factor (NGF) has diverse biological effects, and participates in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Basic studies have demonstrated that NGF is associated with inflammatory- and stress-related VH, as well as stress-related intestinal barrier dysfunction. The aim of this study is to summarize recent literature and discuss the role of NGF in the pathophysiology of IBS-D, especially in VH and intestinal barrier dysfunction, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target in IBS-D.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.|Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100073, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.|Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100073, China.
authors.forename: Shu-kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors
keywords: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome; Intestinal barrier dysfunction; Nerve growth factor; Pathophysiology; Visceral hypersensitivity