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Neurotrophic factors and diseases of the nervous system
Author(s) -
Tuszynski Mark H.,
Gage Fred H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410350705
Subject(s) - neuroscience , neurotrophin , nervous system , neurotrophic factors , central nervous system , medicine , biology , receptor
Neuronal degeneration and death occur in mammals in the course of nervous system development, during senescence, and as a consequence of pathological events throughout life. Neurotrophic factors are natural target‐derived molecules that prevent neuronal degeneration and death during development and promote neuronal recovery from injury and age‐related atrophy. One neurotrophic factor—nerve growth factor—prevents the death of cells that are a target of varicella‐zoster virus: dorsal root sensory neurons. Delivery of neurotrophic factors to dysfunctional neurons may be a useful therapeutic strategy for promoting neuronal recovery in a number of diseases, including varicella‐zoster virus infection.