Pleiotrophin and neural repair after peripheral nerve injury

Abstract

Pleiotrophin, discovered in 1989, was thought as a muhi-funetional growth factor; It plays an important role in tumor occurrence and central neural system. The latest research showed pleiotrophin signal pathway probably takes part in neural repair after peripheral nerve injury, especially in the followed crisis point, such as the protection of spinal cord neuron, the promotion of the speed of neuron axon regeneration, the guidance of neuron axon regeneration, skeleton muscle reirmervation. It potentially makes a key role in the guidance of neural axon regeneration in peripheral neural system and muscle reianervation. Along with the related researches go deep, pleiotrophin gene might become a controllable target for promoting the result of peripheral neural repair and reconstructing the neuromuscular junction. Key words: pleiotrophin; peripheral nerve injury; neuromuscular junction; axon regenerational guidance