Micera Alessandra, Puxeddu Ilaria, Aloe Luigi, Levi-Schaffer Francesca
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO Box 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2003 Oct;14(5):369-74. doi: 10.1016/s1359-6101(03)00047-9.
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), that was originally discovered for its properties of stimulating growth and differentiation of neurons, is now also considered responsible for several activities in the immune system and beyond. Mast cells and eosinophils, key cells of allergic inflammation, are a source of NGF and are influenced by it. These observations have prompted studies on NGF in allergy and tissue repair. Recent evidences link NGF and these two processes. While NGF is clearly a new tool in the management of untreatable ulcers, its role in allergic inflammation, although appearing to be pro-inflammatory, is still not clearly defined.
神经生长因子（NGF）最初因其刺激神经元生长和分化的特性而被发现，现在也被认为与免疫系统及其他方面的多种活动有关。肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞是过敏性炎症的关键细胞，它们是NGF的来源并受其影响。这些观察结果促使了对NGF在过敏和组织修复方面的研究。最近的证据将NGF与这两个过程联系起来。虽然NGF显然是治疗难治性溃疡的一种新工具，但其在过敏性炎症中的作用，尽管似乎具有促炎作用，但仍未明确界定。
