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Neurotrophic factors in enteric physiology and pathophysiology
Author(s) -
Liu Sumei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/nmo.13446
Subject(s) - neurotrophic factors , enteric nervous system , neurotrophin , neuroscience , gastrointestinal tract , glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , brain derived neurotrophic factor , biology , motility , ciliary neurotrophic factor , pathophysiology , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor
Neurotrophic factors are traditionally recognized for their roles in differentiation, growth, and survival of specific neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. Some neurotrophic factors are essential for the development and migration of the enteric nervous system along the fetal and post‐natal gut. Over the last two decades, several non‐developmental functions of neurotrophic factors have been characterized. In the adult gastrointestinal tract, neurotrophic factors regulate gut sensation, motility, epithelial barrier function, and protect enteric neurons and glial cells from damaging insults in the microenvironment of the gut. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility , Fu et al demonstrate that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor plays a role in the pathogenesis of distention‐induced abdominal pain in bowel obstruction. In light of this interesting finding, this mini‐review highlights some of the recent advances in understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of neurotrophic factors in the adult gut.