Trophic effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor on denervated skeletal muscle.

The actions and receptor for ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) are largely restricted to cells of the nervous system, although one of the CNTF receptor components, CNTFR alpha, is expressed by skeletal muscle. Here we show that the other CNTF receptor components, LIFR beta and gp130, are also expressed by skeletal muscle and that expression of all three CNTF receptor components is greatly increased in denervated muscle. In vivo, administration of CNTF activates these receptors on skeletal muscle by inducing receptor phosphorylation and immediate-early gene responses.