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Chemotaxis and accumulation of nerve growth factor by microglia and macrophages
Author(s) -
Gilad G. M.,
Gilad V. H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490410505
Subject(s) - microglia , nerve growth factor , chemotaxis , neurotrophin , neuroscience , central nervous system , neurotrophin 3 , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular , neuroglia , neurotrophic factors , nervous system , immunology , brain derived neurotrophic factor , inflammation , receptor , biochemistry
Astrocytes and microglia play a critical role in the reaction of the central nervous system (CNS) to trauma. Although both astrocytes and microglia can produce it, accumulation of immunoreactive nerve growth factor (the prototype neurotrophin important for the survival of several classes of neurons) was observed selectively in cultured microglia and macrophages, rather than in astrocytes. Furthermore, microglia were found to display chemotaxis toward a localized source of nerve growth factor and, as demonstrated by autoradiography, take up extracellular nerve growth factor. These findings suggest that microglia, the brain's own macrophages, participate in the regulation of nerve growth factor availability in a site‐specific manner. This novel function may assume a general importance both in the CNS and the peripheral nervous system at critical times after trauma when this neurotrophin is needed for nerve cell survival. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.