Significant advancements in understanding Parkinson's disease have emerged over the past five years, particularly regarding the effects of MPTP and the potential for transplantation therapies. In January 1988, a research meeting organized by the National Parkinson Foundation in Key Biscayne, Florida, aimed to foster collaboration among scientists in the field. The published proceedings document current findings, focusing on clinical and neuropathological insights, particularly concerning dopaminergic neurons and the biology of dopamine receptors.
The pharmacology of neurotrophic factors is a key aspect of neuroprotection and neurodegeneration, a research area that has developed over the past two decades. This field has uncovered molecular mechanisms that influence the morphological plasticity of the nervous system, leading to innovative pharmacological strategies to address disease states. The emerging structural neuropharmacology aims to manipulate the anatomical features of the nervous system, akin to hardware adjustments in computer systems. In contrast, classical neuropharmacology focused on modifying the function of existing synapses or ion channels, similar to software modifications in computing.
Currently, the pharmacology of neurotrophic factors is in its infancy, with no major drugs developed yet. However, promising clinical trials have begun in the last two years, with more ongoing, suggesting rapid progress ahead. The identification of nerve growth factor (NGF), the first protein known to support the survival and growth of nerve cells, paved the way for discovering a family of related proteins known as neurotrophins and their receptors. This understanding has been expanded to include various protein families that fit the functional definition of neurotrophic factors, which are crucial for regulating the survival and differentiation of neurons.
This comprehensive exploration delves into neurotrophic factors and their implications for neurodegenerative diseases. It examines the survival, regrowth, and reconnection of injured retinal ganglion cells, alongside the localization of nerve growth factor (NGF) family members in brain neurons. The annotation highlights studies on NGF's expression and actions within the central nervous system (CNS), including its gene expression in actively growing brain glia and its receptor expression in transgenic mice. Investigations into the role of protein kinase C in regulating NGF synthesis suggest potential links to impaired trophic supply in Alzheimer's disease. The distribution and characterization of NGF receptors in Alzheimer’s patients are discussed, along with cytokine regulation of NGF synthesis and its therapeutic implications. The annotation also addresses NGF's expression and function in the CNS, its role in behavioral recovery post-brain damage in rats, and the effects of dietary interventions on age-related functional impairments in nerve growth factor-sensitive neuronal projections. Further topics include the morphological and behavioral effects of fibroblast growth factors on transplanted neurons, the localization of these factors in the eye, and the development of synthetic peptide agonists and antagonists. Finally, it touches on the effects of neurotrophic factors on Alzheimer’s amyloid precursor metabolism and the com
