Cholinergic basis of nerve growth factor in the treatment of Alzheimers disease
- VernacularTitle:神经生长因子治疗阿尔采末病的胆碱能神经机制
- Author:
Hao WANG
;
Yang LU
;
Hongzhuan CHEN
;
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
nerve growth factor;
cholinergic neuron;
Alzheimers disease
- From:
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin
2003;0(08):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Nerve growth factor (NGF), one of the most potent growth factors for cholinergic neurons, has generated great interest as a potential target for the treatment of Alzheimers disease (AD). The degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, which provides the major source of cholinergic innervation to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, occurs early and contributes significantly to cognitive decline in AD. Those regions show high level expression of NGF and NGF receptors and depend on NGF for their survival and proper function. NGF executes its effects mainly by binding high affinity receptor TrkA in the remaining neurons of AD. Meanwhile, stimulation of neurons may protect those cells from the deleterious effects of AD, a phenomenon called “use it or lose it.”However, the use of NGF as therapeutic agent is limited by their hindered mobility through the blood brain barrier. Many theoretical and technical issues for NGF delivery to the target region in the brain remain to be solved, before NGF can live up to its potential for the treatment of AD.
