Nervous system epigenetics

Figure 17.4. Epigenetics in the nervous system. Regulation occurs in response to synaptic inputs and/or other psychosocial-environmental stimuli. The external stimuli result in changes in the transcriptional profile of the neuron and eventually affects neural function(s). Many disorders of human cognition might involve dysfunction of epigenetic tagging. (See color insert.)...

During the development of the vertebrate nervous system most, if not all, neuronal populations undergo a period of programmed cell death. During this period neurons depend on the availability of epigenetic factors for their survival (Barde, 1989). Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first described neurotrophic factor that was able to support the survival of subpopulations of neurons both in vivo and in vitro (see Levi-Montalcini, 1987 for review). However, NGF does not support all neuronal populations, indicating that other neurotrophic factors must also exist. The purification and characterisation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its similarities to NGF, have led to the discovery of a family of neurotrophic factors now known as the neurotrophins. This review will attempt to cover what is known about the BDNF protein, its site of synthesis and its mechanism of action. 

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