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NGF, Sensitization of Nociceptors

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Encyclopedia of Pain

Definition

NGF is a secreted protein of molecular mass of 13 kD which exists as a homodimer. It is a member of the neurotrophin family, which also includes brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT4/5). NGF binds to both a high affinity tyrosine kinase receptor trkA and a low affinity receptor p75. Nociceptors are primary afferent neurons that respond to potentially tissue damaging stimuli. NGF can sensitize these neurons so that they show an increased response to thermal and chemical stimuli.

Characteristics

It has now been established that NGF is a key mediator involved in the generation of inflammatory pain; for a full discussion of this please see the chapter ‘Inflammatory pain and NGF’. Administration of NGF either locally or systemically results in both thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia. NGF administration produces both a peripheral sensitization (increased response of primary afferent neurons to noxious stimuli) and central...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK

    David Bennett

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  1. David Bennett
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Physiological Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Robert F. Schmidt

  2. Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

    William D. Willis

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bennett, D. (2007). NGF, Sensitization of Nociceptors. In: Schmidt, R., Willis, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_2721

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_2721

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43957-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29805-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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