The protean actions of neurotrophins and their receptors on the life and death of neurons.

[Guest guest]

Trends Neurosci. 2005 Jan;28(1):5-11.

(Note: this short abstract is about nerve growth factors, such as NT-3 that we

have been following for a few years now. ~ Gretchen)

The protean actions of neurotrophins and their receptors on the life and death

of neurons.

Kalb R.

ph Stokes, Jr Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and

Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3615

Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

At vanishingly low concentrations, factors of the neurotrophin family (NGF,

BDNF, NT3 and NT4/5) can promote neuronal survival or death. Many investigations

indicate that the survival-promoting signals of neurotrophins are generated by

activation of Trk tyrosine kinase receptors and that their death-promoting

signals are generated by activation of p75 neurotrophin receptors (p75(NTR)).

Despite this, a body of work indicates that p75(NTR) can promote cell survival

and Trk receptors can adversely affect neuron health. The potential mechanisms

by which these receptors could have such diverse and antipodal effects are

considered here.