Toward the Pharmacological Regulation of Nerve Growth Factor Biosynthesis

  • Italo Mocchetti
  • Maria A. De Bernardi
  • Michele Fabrazzo
Chapter
Part of the Advances in Alzheimer Disease Therapy book series (AADT)

Abstract

Beta-nerve growth factor (NGF), the most well-characterized neuronal trophic factor, appears to have a physiological role in the central nervous system (CNS). This has been suggested by a variety of evidence, including the discovery of NGF mRNA and NGF receptor mRNA molecules in various brain areas (Buck et al., 1987; Large et al., 1986; Whittemore et al., 1987). Furthermore, it has been shown that NGF has trophic influence on cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain (Fisher et al., 1987; Hefty, 1986; Kromer, 1987; Williams et al., 1986). These findings have suggested the use of NGF as a specific treatment regimen to slow or reverse the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, due to its inability to cross the blood brain barrier, NGF cannot be easily used as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of CNS disorders, therefore, other strategies have been proposed. One alternative is the implantation in the brain of genetically modified cells that produce NGF (Rosemberg et al., 1988). However, significant questions still remain concerning the potential applications of grafted cells to brain pathophysiology. Problems include the potential limited survival time as well as a possible host-immune response to the implant. Another alternative is a more physiological approach, such as enhancing the production of endogenous NGF by pharmacological manipulations. Therefore, informations on the mechanism of NGF biosynthesis regulation are needed.

Keywords

Nerve Growth Factor Nerve Growth Factor Concentration Nerve Growth Factor Content Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Gene Nerve Growth Factor Gene Expression 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • Italo Mocchetti
    • 1
  • Maria A. De Bernardi
    • 2
  • Michele Fabrazzo
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyGeorgetown University School of MedicineUSA
  2. 2.Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Fidia-Georgetown Institute for the NeurosciencesGeorgetown University, School of MedicineUSA

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