Nerve growth factor development

Neary JT Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, Miami, FL Effects of lead on nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth and branching due to an interaction of lead with signal transduction mechanisms important for neuronal differentiation Department of Veterans Affairs, Research and Development... 

M. Eng, V. Ling, J. A. Briggs, K. Souza, E. Canova-Davis, M. F. Powell, L. R. De Young, Formulation Development and Primary Degradation Pathways for Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor , Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 4184-4190. 

Many cytokines play a regulatory role in processes other that immunity and inflammation. Neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulate growth, development and maintenance of various neural populations in the central and peripheral nervous system. Erythropoietin stimulates the production of red blood cells from erythroid precursors in the bone marrow. 

Neurotrophic factors constitute a group of cytokines that regulate the development, maintenance and survival of neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (Table 7.9). While the first member of this family (nerve growth factor, NGF) was discovered more than 50 years ago, it is only in the last decade that the other members have been identified and characterized. The major sub-family of neurotrophic factors are the neurotrophins. 

Initial studies by CytoTherapeutics, Inc. (later StemCells, Inc.), which led to the development of HuCNS-SC, focused on the delivery of protein neurotrophic factors into the neural system. In particular, studies focused on the transfer of human nerve growth factor (NGF) into neurodegenerative animal models [199982], [199983], [225755], [243560],... 

Cirulli F. Role of environmental factors on brain development and nerve growth factor expression. Physiol Behav 2001 73 321-330. 

Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are implicated in neuronal development, growth, plasticity, and maintenance of function. Neurodevelopment is impaired in schizophrenia and vulnerable schizophrenic brains may be more sensitive to toxic influences. Thus, cannabis may be more neurotoxic to schizophrenic brains than to nonschizophrenic brains when used chronically. In 157 drug-naive first-episode schizophrenic patients there were significantly raised BDNF serum concentrations by up to 34% in patients with chronic cannabis abuse or multiple substance abuse before the onset of the disease (114). Thus, raised BDNF serum concentrations are not related to schizophrenia and /or substance abuse itself but may reflect cannabis-related idiosyncratic damage to the schizophrenic brain. Disease onset was 5.2 years earlier in the cannabis-consuming group. 

Barrett GL, Bar tlett PF (1994) The p75 nerve growth factor receptor mediates survival or death depending on tire stage of sensory neuron development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91 6501-6505. 

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a polypeptide, a molecule composed of several amino acid units that has a protein-like behavior, but is not as complex as a protein in structure. NGF increases the growth of nerve cells, especially those in the peripheral nervous system, and directs the growth and orientation of nerve cell axons (processes which carry impulses away from the nerve cell body to adjoining dendrites). NGF is one of many growth factors found to be essential in cell division (mitosis), and has been isolated from a variety of cells such as mouse salivary glands and developing nerve tissue. The behavior of NGF resembles that of polypeptide hormones such as insnlin. 

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