Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1331:3-10. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_1.
Neurotrophins (NTs) are molecules regulating differentiation, maintenance, and functional plasticity of vertebrate nervous systems. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first to be identified in the neurotrophin family. The long scientific history of NTs provided not only advancement in the neuroscience field but opened new scenarios involving different body districts in physiological and pathological conditions, which include the immune, endocrine, and skeletal system, vascular districts, inflammation, etc. To date, many biological aspects of NTs have been clarified, but the new discoveries are still opening new insights on molecular and cellular mechanisms and systemic effects, also affecting the possible therapeutic application of NTs. This short review summarizes the main aspects of NGF biology and biochemistry, including the role of the NGF precursor molecule, high- and low-affinity receptors and related intracellular pathways, and target cells.
神经递（神）是调节脊椎动物神经系统分化、维持和功能可塑性的分子。神长因（NGF）是神家族中第一个被鉴定出来的。NTs 的长科历史不仅为神经科领域的进步提供了，而且为涉及生理和病理条件下不同身体区的不同场景开辟了，包括免疫、内分泌和骨骼系统、血管区、炎症等。迄今为止，NTs 的许多生物学方面已经得到阐明，但新的发现仍在不断揭示分子和细胞机制以及系统的新见解，也影响到 NTs 的可能治疗应用。这篇短综述总结了 NGF 生物学和生物化学的主要方面，包括 NGF 前体分子、高亲和和低亲和受体及相关细胞内途径和靶细胞的作用。
