Richardson P M
Division of Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal General Hospital, Canada.
Pharmacol Ther. 1994 Aug;63(2):187-98. doi: 10.1016/0163-7258(94)90045-0.
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a 22-kDa protein predicted to share with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 a common amphipathic helical domain. Consistent with this prediction, the CNTF receptor complex is composed of the CNTF alpha receptor, the LIF beta receptor and gp130 a signalling molecule for LIF and interleukin-6. The major sources of synthesis of CNTF are Schwann cells and astrocytes, but it remains unclear how much CNTF is released from these glial cells and by what mechanism. In vitro, CNTF supports the survival of all classes of peripheral nervous system neurons plus many CNS neurons, induces neurite outgrowth, promotes a cholinergic phenotype in sympathetic neurons and arrests division of neuronal precursor cells. Several cell lines also respond to CNTF. In vivo, CNTF rescues several types of neurons from axotomy-induced death. The functions of CNTF in the development and maintenance of the nervous system remain enigmatic.
睫状神经营养因子（CNTF）是一种22 kDa的蛋白质，预计与白血病抑制因子（LIF）和白细胞介素-6共享一个共同的两亲性螺旋结构域。与这一预测一致，CNTF受体复合物由CNTFα受体、LIFβ受体和gp130组成，gp130是LIF和白细胞介素-6的信号分子。CNTF的主要合成来源是施万细胞和星形胶质细胞，但目前尚不清楚这些神经胶质细胞释放了多少CNTF以及通过何种机制释放。在体外，CNTF支持所有类型的外周神经系统神经元以及许多中枢神经系统神经元的存活，诱导神经突生长，促进交感神经元的胆碱能表型，并阻止神经元前体细胞的分裂。几种细胞系也对CNTF有反应。在体内，CNTF可使几种类型的神经元从轴突切断诱导的死亡中获救。CNTF在神经系统发育和维持中的功能仍然是个谜。
