Therapeutic Use of Neurotrophic Factors

Abstract

Publisher Summary Neurotrophic factor therapy is still at an embryonic stage; however, it appears to be one of the most promising pharmacological approaches toward effective treatment of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. This chapter provides a matrix of established interactions among neurotrophic factors and populations of neurons vulnerable in specific diseases, suggesting clinical use of the proteins. Recent detailed studies indicate that TrkA receptors are predominantly expressed by small cutaneous and visceral sensory neurons and TrkC receptors by large proprioceptive neurons, whereas TrkB receptors are expressed by a fraction of all types of sensory neurons. In line with these findings, small cutaneous sensory neurons are absent in mutant mice that lack functional NGF or TrkA genes. Nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation caused by autoimmunization exhibits degenerative changes of sensory neurons. Expression studies and analysis of mutant mice suggest that NGF may be useful in the treatment of neuropathies affecting small sensory and visceral sensory neurons whereas NT-3 is expected to be beneficial for large proprioceptive sensory neurons.