Otten U, Gadient R A
Department of Physiology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Int J Dev Neurosci. 1995 Jun-Jul;13(3-4):147-51. doi: 10.1016/0736-5748(95)00016-a.
Neurotrophins (NTs), including nerve growth factor (NGF), are multifunctional: in addition to their well-characterized neurotrophic functions they are known to regulate and to be regulated by cytokines, components of the immune system. In line with this we have found expression of a functional trk proto-oncogene, constituting the signal transducing-receptor for NGF, on monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes and basophils. Moreover, NGF synthesis is regulated by a cytokine cascade including inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The fact that NGF levels are markedly elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis and in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus strongly indicates a role for NGF in immunopathology as well as in normal immune function.
神经营养因子（NTs），包括神经生长因子（NGF），具有多种功能：除了其已被充分表征的神经营养功能外，它们还已知可调节免疫系统的细胞因子并受其调节。与此一致的是，我们在单核细胞/巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞上发现了功能性trk原癌基因的表达，该基因构成了NGF的信号转导受体。此外，NGF的合成受细胞因子级联反应调节，该级联反应包括白细胞介素-1和肿瘤坏死因子-α等炎症介质。多发性硬化症患者脑脊液和系统性红斑狼疮患者血清中NGF水平明显升高，这一事实强烈表明NGF在免疫病理学以及正常免疫功能中发挥作用。
