The Neurotrophin System in the Postnatal Brain-An Introduction.

Biology (Basel)

Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Friedrich Loeffler Str. 23c, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.

Published: July 2024

Neurotrophins can bind to and signal through specific receptors that belong to the class of the Trk family of tyrosine protein kinase receptors. In addition, they can bind and signal through a low-affinity receptor, termed p75NTR. Neurotrophins play a crucial role in the development, maintenance, and function of the nervous system in vertebrates, but they also have important functions in the mature nervous system. In particular, they are involved in synaptic and neuronal plasticity. Thus, it is not surprisingly that they are involved in learning, memory and cognition and that disturbance in the neurotrophin system can contribute to psychiatric diseases. The neurotrophin system is sensitive to aging and changes in the expression levels correlate with age-related changes in brain functions. Several polymorphisms in genes coding for the different neurotrophins or neurotrophin receptors have been reported. Based on the importance of the neurotrophins for the central nervous system, it is not surprisingly that several of these polymorphisms are associated with psychiatric diseases. In this review, we will shed light on the functions of neurotrophins in the postnatal brain, especially in processes that are involved in synaptic and neuronal plasticity.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11352095PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology13080558DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

neurotrophin system
12
nervous system
12
bind signal
8
involved synaptic
8
synaptic neuronal
8
neuronal plasticity
8
psychiatric diseases
8
neurotrophins
5
system
5
neurotrophin
4

Similar Publications

Netrin-1 (NTN1) is a laminin-related secreted protein involved in axon guidance and cell migration. Previous research has established a significant connection between NTN1 and nervous system development. In recent years, mounting evidence indicates that NTN1 also plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neural Plasticity in Migraine Chronification.

Eur J Neurosci

January 2025

Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Mazovian Academy in Plock, Plock, Poland.

Chronic migraine (CM) is the ultimate and most burdensome form of the transformation from episodic migraine (EM), called chronification. The mechanism behind migraine chronification is poorly known and difficult to explore as CM has the same spectrum of pathogenesis as EM and the EM-CM transition is bidirectional. Central sensitization (CS) is a key phenomenon in migraine: its mechanisms include disturbed neural plasticity, which is the ability of the nervous system to adapt to endo- and exogenous changes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In healthy intervertebral discs (IVDs), nerves and blood vessels are present only in the outer annulus fibrosus, while in degenerative IVDs, a large amount of nerve and blood vessel tissue grows inward. Evidence supports that neurogenic inflammation produced by neuropeptides such as substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide released by the nociceptive nerve fibers innervating the IVDs plays a crucial role in the process of IVD degeneration. Recently, non-neuronal cells, including IVD cells and infiltrating immune cells, have emerged as important players in neurogenic inflammation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aim: Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) constitute a promising alternative for central nervous system (CNS) cell therapy. Unlike other human stem cells, hDPSCs can be differentiated, without genetic modification, to neural cells that secrete neuroprotective factors. However, a better understanding of their real capacity to give rise to functional neurons and integrate into synaptic networks is still needed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Increased nerve density adversely affects outcome in colorectal cancer and denervation suppresses tumor growth.

J Transl Med

January 2025

Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P.R. China.

Background: The colon and rectum are highly innervated, with neural components within the tumor microenvironment playing a significant role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. While perineural invasion (PNI) is associated with poor prognosis in CRC, the impact of nerve density and diameter on tumor behavior remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of nerve characteristics in CRC and to verify the impact of nerves on tumor growth.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!