Neural cells molecular mechanisms

Biomedical research continues to broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlining both health and disease. Research undertaken since the 1950s has pinpointed a host of proteins produced naturally in the body that have obvious therapeutic applications. Examples include the interferons and interleukins (which regulate the immune response), growth factors, such as erythropoietin (EPO which stimulates red blood cell production), and neurotrophic factors (which regulate the development and maintenance of neural tissue). 

LaBonne, C. and Bronner-Fraser, M. Molecular mechanisms of neural crest formation. Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 15 81-112,1999. 

The identity of factors released from damaged neurons to signal microglial cell activation may depend upon which type of neural cell is damaged, neuron versus glial, and on the the toxin or stimulus, glutamate versus /1-amyloid versus a-synuclein, and the nature of cellular death, apoptosis versus necrosis. Similarly, the molecular mechanisms and internal and external factors that modulate the dynamic aspects of acute and chronic inflammation in cell injury mediated by glutamate remain unclear. It also remains unclear to what extent inflammation is beneficial... 

Engelhardt B (2006) Molecular mechanisms involved in T cell migration across the blood-brain banier. J Neural Transm 113 477 85. 

We may conclude that many important biological rhythms originate from positive feedback mechanisms whose nonlinearity is further strengthened by the cooperative nature of the regulatory process. Although the detailed molecular implementation of the feedback process differs in each case, it is the self-amplification with which it is associated that gives rise to instabilities followed by sustained oscillations in biochemical systems as well as in cardiac or neural cells (Goldbeter, 1992). 

---