Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile.
Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 22;23(10):5817. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105817.
Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), NT-4, and NT-5, are proteins involved in several important functions of the central nervous system. The activation of the signaling pathways of these neurotrophins, or even by their immature form, pro-neurotrophins, starts with their recognition by cellular receptors, such as tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) and 75 kD NT receptors (p75NTR). The Trk receptor is considered to have a high affinity for attachment to specific neurotrophins, while the p75NTR receptor has less affinity for attachment with neurotrophins. The correct functioning of these signaling pathways contributes to proper brain development, neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity. Unbalanced levels of neurotrophins and pro-neurotrophins have been associated with neurological disorders, illustrating the importance of these molecules in the central nervous system. Furthermore, reports have indicated that viruses can alter the normal levels of neurotrophins by interfering with their signaling pathways. This work discusses the importance of neurotrophins in the central nervous system, their signaling pathways, and how viruses can affect them.
神经递质，如神经生长因子（NGF）、脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）和神经营养因子 3（NT-3）、NT-4 和 NT-5，是参与中枢神经系统几个重要功能的蛋白质。这些神经营养因子的信号通路的激活，甚至是其不成熟形式，原神经营养因子的激活，都始于它们被细胞受体识别，如原肌球蛋白受体激酶（Trk）和 75kD 神经营养因子受体（p75NTR）。Trk 受体被认为与特定神经营养因子具有高亲和力，而 p75NTR 受体与神经营养因子的亲和力较低。这些信号通路的正确功能有助于大脑的正常发育、神经元的存活和突触的可塑性。神经营养因子和原神经营养因子的失衡水平与神经紊乱有关，这表明这些分子在中枢神经系统中的重要性。此外，有报道称病毒可以通过干扰其信号通路来改变神经营养因子的正常水平。这项工作讨论了神经营养因子在中枢神经系统中的重要性、它们的信号通路以及病毒如何影响它们。
