Rochlitzer S, Nassenstein C, Braun A
Immunology and Allergology, Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Nikolai-Fuchs-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2006 Aug;34(Pt 4):594-9. doi: 10.1042/BST0340594.
The neurotrophins nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-3 (neurotrophin 3) and NT-4 are known for regulating neuron development, function and survival. Beyond this, neurotrophins were found to exert multiple effects on non-neuronal cells such as immune cells, smooth muscle and epithelial cells. In allergic asthma, airway inflammation, airway obstruction, AHR (airway hyperresponsiveness) and airway remodelling are characteristic features, indicating an intensive interaction between neuronal, structural and immune cells in the lung. In allergic asthma patients, elevated neurotrophin levels in the blood and locally in the lung are commonly observed. Additionally, structural cells of the lung and immune cells, present in the lung during airway inflammation, were shown to be capable of neurotrophin production. A functional relationship between neurotrophins and the main features of asthma was revealed, as airway obstruction, airway inflammation, AHR and airway remodelling were all shown to be stimulated by neurotrophins. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of neurotrophin sources and target cells in the lung, concerning their possible role as mediators between structural cells, immune cells and neurons, connecting the different features of allergic asthma.
神经营养因子神经生长因子、脑源性神经营养因子、NT-3（神经营养蛋白3）和NT-4以调节神经元发育、功能和存活而闻名。除此之外，人们发现神经营养因子对非神经元细胞如免疫细胞、平滑肌和上皮细胞具有多种作用。在过敏性哮喘中，气道炎症、气道阻塞、气道高反应性（AHR）和气道重塑是其特征，这表明肺内神经元、结构细胞和免疫细胞之间存在密切相互作用。在过敏性哮喘患者中，通常观察到血液和肺局部神经营养因子水平升高。此外，气道炎症期间肺内的结构细胞和免疫细胞能够产生神经营养因子。神经营养因子与哮喘的主要特征之间的功能关系得以揭示，因为气道阻塞、气道炎症、AHR和气道重塑均显示受神经营养因子刺激。本综述的目的是概述肺内神经营养因子的来源和靶细胞，涉及其作为结构细胞、免疫细胞和神经元之间的介质，连接过敏性哮喘不同特征的可能作用。
