Furukawa Y
Department of Molecular Biology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University.
Nihon Rinsho. 1992 Aug;50(8):1910-7.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the initially discovered and best characterized target-derived neurotrophic factor. The NGF gene family includes NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)-3, NT-4, and NT-5. The members of this family can interact with the members of trk family of receptor-like protein-tyrosine kinases (trk, trk B and trk C), suggesting that the different trk protein serves as receptor subunits for the different neurotrophins. Meanwhile, some recent reports have shown that exogenous administration of NGF itself or a stimulator of NGF synthesis to damaged neurons have beneficial effects. These findings open the possibility of new therapy for nervous diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
神经生长因子（NGF）是最初发现且特征描述最为详尽的靶源性神经营养因子。NGF基因家族包括NGF、脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）、神经营养素（NT）-3、NT-4和NT-5。该家族成员可与受体样蛋白酪氨酸激酶trk家族成员（trk、trk B和trk C）相互作用，这表明不同的trk蛋白作为不同神经营养因子的受体亚基。同时，最近一些报告显示，向受损神经元外源性给予NGF本身或NGF合成刺激剂具有有益作用。这些发现为诸如阿尔茨海默病等神经疾病的新疗法开辟了可能性。
