The Emerging Therapeutic Role of NGF in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative dementia that affects the elderly population. Nerve growth factor (NGF) contributes to the survival, regeneration and death of neurons during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, research has shown that NGF is related to the pathology, mechanisms and symptoms of AD. Therefore, there is a need to summarize the new advancements in NGF research and its potential therapeutic implications in AD. In this review, we will focus on NGF distribution, production, and function; the interaction of Aβ and NGF; and the effect of different therapy methods on AD. In summary, we hope to describe the experimental and clinical data demonstrating the important roles of NGF for AD treatment.     

The CB₁ receptor-mediated endocannabinoid signaling and NGF: the novel targets of curcumin

Increasing interest has recently been attracted towards the identification of natural compounds including those with antidepressant properties. Curcumin has shown promising antidepressant effect, however, its molecular target(s) have not been well defined. Based on the interaction between the neurotrophins and endocannabinoid system as well as their contribution to the emotional reactivity and antidepressant action, here we show that 4-week treatment with curcumin, similar to the classical antidepressant amitriptyline, results in the sustained elevation of brain nerve growth factor (NGF) and endocannabinoids in dose-dependent and brain region-specific fashion. Pretreatment with cannabinoid CB₁ receptor neutral antagonist AM4113, but not the CB₂ antagonist SR144528, prevents the enhancement of brain NGF contents. AM4113 exerts no effect by itself. Our findings by presenting the CB₁ receptor-mediated endocannabinoid signaling and NGF as novel targets for curcumin, suggest that more attention should be focused on the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines including curcumin.     

蛇毒中的NGF及其医学应用

本文综述了蛇毒ＮＧＦ的来源、结构、理化性质、纯化和生物活性鉴定，并简述了ＮＧＦ可能应用的范围以及目前已应用的一些疾病。     

Regulation of IGF-1 but not TGF-β1 by NGF in the smooth muscle of the inflamed urinary bladder

Intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP) causes hemorrhagic cystitis with excess growth of muscular layer leading to bladder hypertrophy; this could be attributable to changes in the expression profiles of growth factors in the inflamed urinary bladder. The growth factors characterized in the current study include nerve growth factor (NGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. We found that following CYP injection for 8 h and 48 h, the mRNA levels of all three factors were increased in the inflamed bladder when compared to control. The level of NGF mRNA was mainly increased in the urothelium layer while the levels of IGF-1 mRNA and TGF-β1 mRNA were increased in the smooth muscle layer. The level of NGF high affinity receptor TrkA mRNA was also increased in both the urothelium and the smooth muscle layers during bladder inflammation. When we blocked NGF action with NGF neutralizing antibody in vivo, we found that the up-regulation of IGF-1 in the inflamed bladder was reversed while the up-regulation of TGF-β1 was not affected by NGF neutralization. The effect of NGF on regulating IGF-1 expression was further confirmed in bladder smooth muscle culture showing that exogenous NGF increased the mRNA level of IGF-1 after 30 min to 1 h stimulation. These results suggested that bladder inflammation induced region-specific changes in the expression profiles of NGF, IGF-1 and TGF-β1. The up-regulation of NGF in the urothelium may have a role in affecting bladder smooth muscle cell physiology by regulating IGF-1 expression.     

Coordinate expression of NGF and α-smooth muscle actin mRNA and protein in cutaneous wound tissue of developing and adult rats

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is synthesized in cutaneous wound tissue, and its higher levels in the neonate may contribute to more efficient wound healing. We used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to define NGF mRNA and protein expression in intact skin and following excision wounding in neonatal and adult rats. To determine whether NGF is associated with wound contractile fibroblasts (myofibroblasts), we also examined expression of !-smooth muscle actin (!-SMA) mRNA and protein, established markers for these cells. In intact skin, NGF mRNA and protein were present in vascular and arrector pili smooth muscle, hair follicle sheath cells, keratinocytes, and hypodermal fibroblasts. Neonatal adipocytes and Schwann cells also expressed NGF mRNA and protein, while adult adipocytes and Schwann cells displayed only NGF-ir. Following wounding, NGF mRNA expression was exuberant in these cell types, and increased similarly at both ages and appeared de novo in skeletal muscle cells. Additionally, both NGF mRNA and protein were present in macrophages and myofibroblasts, and expression in myofibroblasts was significantly greater in neonates. Wound myofibroblasts also expressed !-SMA. Surprisingly, after wounding !-SMA mRNA and protein were present in essentially all cells in which NGF mRNA was detected. We conclude that NGF expression is enhanced in many cell types after wounding, but greater NGF synthesis in neonates appears to be due to a more robust myofibroblast response. In addition, cell types which demonstrated NGF mRNA also expressed !-SMA, and staining for both markers increased following wounding, suggesting synthesis of both proteins is regulated in a coordinated fashion.     

NGF诱导PC12细胞分化机制的研究进展

神经生长因子诱导PC12细胞分化是一个复杂的信号调节过程,其中因子和信号传导途径参与,NGF可通过不同信号途径诱导PC12细胞分化。本文在Ras／MAPK途径、PI－3K信号途径及细胞凋期等方面的研究作一叙述。     

NGF电纺纤维的体外缓释研究

目的:研究担载神经生长因子(NGF)的静电纺丝纤维的表征,考察NGF电纺纤维对于周围神经修复的效果。方法:将NGF水溶液分散于PLLA溶液,通过W/O乳液法制备静电纺丝纤维,对纤维的形态、力学性能等进行表征,Elisa方法测定NGF的体外释放动力学,Alamer Blue法检测试剂来考察纤维释放液对于PC12细胞增殖的影响。结果:NGF电纺纤维具备良好的形态和力学性质,直径为500-900 nm,纤维具备三维多孔结构。纤维的最大拉伸应力为2.50±0.41 MPa。电纺纤维中NGF在体外可有效释放9天,累积释放量接近3000 pg。细胞活性实验结果显示,第1、3、5、7天释放液的荧光强度与对照组相比有显著差异。结论:担载NGF的乳液法静电纺丝纤维有促进缺损周围神经修复的潜质。     

NGF诱导PC12细胞分化的研究

动物实验表明,生理浓度的乙醇在脑发育过程中,不但可以影响神经细胞的数量,还可协同增强NGF诱导PC12细胞形态和功能上的分化,分化的PC12细胞具有与交感神经元相似的性状特征。用100mmol/L乙醇和50ng/mlNGF联合诱导可建立PC12细胞分化模型,为以神经细胞为研究对象的实验提供一种获得神经细胞的方法。     

等电聚焦法测定2.5S NGF的等电点

采用水平等电聚焦法测定了２５Ｓｍ神经生长因子（ＮＧＦ）的等电点。经测定,纯化的２５ＳｍＮＧＦ的等电聚焦为三条带,这与文献报道相一致,等电点ｐＨ值分别为ｐＨ８７、９０、９３,其主要成分为β亚基ＮＧＦ及其修饰物的混合物,包括在羧基端失去８个氨基酸残基和在氨基端失去１个精氨酸残基,由这三种组分构成的ＮＧＦ统称为２５ＳｍＮＧＦ。     

隆德大学着手产生NGF的细胞的移植实验

瑞典隆德(Lund)大学组织学部Walter Fischer和瑞典乌普萨拉(Vppsala)大学的小组,通过基因重组,着手大鼠的脑内移植赋予神经生长因子(NGF)产生能力的细胞的实验。这是Fischer表明的。成为了解NGF的作用机构的同时还可作为利用NGF治疗痴呆的模拟实验。 Fischer等和美国加州大学圣迭戈分校的F.H.Gage等小组通过给     

蛇毒NGF对PC12细胞MAPK表达的影响

有丝分裂原激活的蛋白激酶（MAPK）是磷酸化瀑布中涉及的一类重要蛋白激酶.阐明各种胞外因素对MAPK的调节,以及各种外界信息所经历的具体过程是摆在研究者面前的挑战性任务.用含有长白白眉蝮蛇（A.halys）蛇毒神经生长因子(NGF)的培养基培养PC12细胞, 观察MAPK和MAPK激酶(MAPKK)表达及MAPK的活性.结果表明,A.halys蛇毒NGF使PC12细胞的MAPK和MAPKK的表达及MAPK活性明显增加.当蛇毒NGF浓度在25～100 μg/L时,随浓度的增加,酶的表达和活性呈线性增加.由A.halys蛇毒NGF诱导的MAPK和MAPKK表达的增加依赖于蛋白激酶C(PKC).     

牛脑海马NGF分离纯化及微量元素含量检测

将牛脑海马粗提物经盐析、透析、CM-离子交换层析分离纯化得到2个洗脱峰,其中CM2峰含有NGF。利用Western Blot检测结果表明,NGF的分子量约为55 KD和70 KD;PC12细胞法检测其生物学活性,在CM2分离组分作用下,PC12细胞轴突生长效果优于2 ng/mL标准品NGF;原子吸收分光光度法检测脑海马结构微量元素含量,Zn与Cu无差别,Fe与Zn、Cu有差异(P<0.01);CM2组分中Fe与Cu含量无差异,Zn远高于Fe、Cu含量(P<0.01)。     

Effects of γ-IFN and NGF on subpopulations in a human neuroblastoma cell line: Flow cytometric and morphological analysis

Summary Neuroblastomas are neural crest-derived tumors that contain neuronal, melanocyte, and Schwann cell precursors. We examined the effects of treatment with γ-interferon (γ-IFN) and nerve growth factor (NGF), alone, and in combination, on these progenitor subpopulations in the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y. Using fluorescence-activated flow cytometry (FACS), changes in expression of three differentiation-specific or-associated marker proteins, the 200 kD neurofilament protein, the myelin basic protein, and the S-100 protein, were analyzed. Growth rates and morphological changes associated with each treatment over the 2-wk incubation period were noted. The greatest effects were observed with combined IFN +NGF treatment. These were significant increases in expression of all three proteins distinctive morphological signs of differentiation, and extensive inhibition of proliferation compared to control cultures. Treatment with NGF alone resulted in increased neurofilament protein expression and in the length and number of neurite extensions, but there was no effect on the growth rate. IFN induced striking morphological changes, significant inhibition of growth, and changes in protein expression that correlated with neuronal to non-neuronal subpopulation shifts due to the death of differentiated cells. When treatment was discontinued after 15 d, the morphological changes induced by NGF were reversed within 2–3 d, while those induced by IFN±NGF were present up to 4 wk post-treatment. Small, neuroblastic colonies were observed throughout the treatment period and within 4–6 wk after the cessation of treatment this cell-type fully reconstituted the cultures suggesting the presence of a stem cell. Our results indicate that treatment with γ-IFN±NGF can regulate growth and induce, either stem cells or progenitor neuronal, Schwann and melanocyte subpopulations in the SH-SY5Y cell line to irreversibly differentiate.     

雌二醇对大鼠颌下腺EGF、NGF生成的影响

为了研究雌二醇（estradiol-17β,E2）对颌下腺表皮生长因子（epidermal growth factor,EGF)和神经生长因子（nerve growth factor,NGF)生成的影响,研究采用免疫组织化学方法,对外源性投予雌二醇后的大鼠颌下腺进行了观察。结果证实E2明显促进颌下腺EGF和NGF的生成。提示雌二醇可能对EGF和NGF的合成起重要的调节作用。     

前列腺组织中神经生长因子(NGF)表达的研究

研究前列腺组织中神经生长因子（ＮＧＦ） 的生理学意义。采用原位杂交和免疫组化法, 检测４３ 例前列腺增生组织, ８ 例腺癌组织和８ 例正常组织中β－ＮＧＦｍ ＲＮＡ及其蛋白的表达及分布。结果显示β－ＮＧＦｍ ＲＮＡ 在正常组织及增生组织中定位于间质细胞, 偶见于上皮细胞中; 而在癌组织中, 上皮细胞和间质细胞有同样强度的β－ＮＧＦｍ ＲＮＡ染色。其蛋白在良性组织中表达主要着色在间质细胞中,上皮细胞呈弱表达,而癌组织中上皮细胞见着色明显增强（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。ＮＧＦ的自分泌异常可见是前列腺组织由良性向恶性转变的原因之一。     

大鼠生后不同时期心肌NGF mRNA水平的变化

神经生长因子 (ｎｅｒｖｅｇｒｏｗｔｈｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＮＧＦ)是最早发现的神经营养因子 ,对于神经元的发育、分化、维持正常功能具有极重要的作用。研究表明 ,ＮＧＦ也参与免疫、造血、生殖、心血管等功能的调节。以往的研究证实 ,心肌细胞可以分泌ＮＧＦ。多年来 ,人们对ＮＧＦ在心脏方面的作用进行了较为深入的研究 ,但迄今为止 ,尚未见有关生后发育过程中正常心肌ＮＧＦｍＲＮＡ表达方面的报道。本研究采用ＲＴ ＰＣＲ(ｒｅｖｅｒｓｅｔｒａｎｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎ ｐｏｌｙｍｅｒａｓｅｃｈａｉｎｒｅａｃｔｉｏｎ)方法 ,半定量分析大鼠生…