| Abstract: | There are various neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are essential for the promotion of neuronal survival (prevention of apoptosis), differentiation and regeneration in the central nervous system. Neurotrophic factors, neurotrophic factor-like substances and inducers of neurotrophic factor biosynthesis have enormous therapeutic potential for serious neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or traumatic, chemical and ischemic lesions in the brain. The clarification of the mechanism in neurotrophic factor biosynthesis is important in understanding the development of the drugs that stimulate neurotrophic factor production. In this review, we describe these mechanisms in the biosynthesis of NGF, BDNF, GDNF and IL-6, and also discuss the drugs that could possibly promote neurotrophic factor biosynthesis. (c) 2002 Prous Science. All rights reserved. |
