Nerve growth factor in the psychiatric brain

Riv Psichiatr. 2020 Jan-Feb;55(1):4-15. doi: 10.1708/3301.32713.

Abstract

The nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs to a family of proteins named neurotrophins, consisting of NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), NT-4/5 and NT-6. NGF regulates a large number of physiological mechanisms that result in neurotrophic, metabotrophic and/or immunotrophic effects. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression and schizophrenia) and brain parasitic infection have in common the effect of changing the brain levels of neurotrophins, in particular NGF. The contribution of both NGF and its receptor TrkA in such events and the recent promising results of NGF based therapies are here presented and discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / metabolism
  • Depression / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factor / physiology*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurotrophin 3 / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Rats
  • Receptor, trkA / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • Social Behavior

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • NTF3 protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Neurotrophin 3
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
  • neurotrophin 4(5) receptor
  • neurotrophin 6
  • BDNF protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factor
  • Receptor, trkA