Neurotrophin treatment to promote regeneration after traumatic CNS injury

Abstract

Neurotrophins are a family of growth factors that have been found to be central for the development and functional maintenance of the nervous system, participating in neurogenesis, neuronal survival, axonal growth, synaptogenesis and activity-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity. Trauma in the adult nervous system can disrupt the functional circuitry of neurons and result in severe functional deficits. The limitation of intrinsic growth capacity of adult nervous system and the presence of an inhospitable environment are the major hurdles for axonal regeneration of lesioned adult neurons. Neurotrophic factors have been shown to be excellent candidates in mediating neuronal repair and establishing functional circuitry via activating several growth signaling mechanisms including neuron-intrinsic regenerative programs. Here, we will review the effects of various neurotrophins in mediating recovery after injury to the adult spinal cord.

Keywords

axonal guidance / neurotrophin / regeneration / functional recovery / sprouting

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R01 NS060784 and the Shriners Hospital for Pediatric Research grants SHC 84050 and SHC 85200 (GMS).

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg