[Nerve growth factor in neurodegeneration and neurorestorative therapy]

The purpose of this work was to gather the information currently available about the content of nerve growth factor (NGF) in experimental models of neurodegeneration and in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, as well as to analyse how NGF content is affected by the application of different neurorestorative therapies (transplant and trophic therapy) in these neurological entities.

Neurotrophins are proteins that promote the differentiation, growth and survival of many populations of peripheral neurons and the central nervous system during development and adulthood. NGF is the best known and most widely researched member of this family, which is also made up of the growth factor derived from the brain and neurotrophins 3, 4/5, 6 and 7. In the last few decades, significant progress has been made in the knowledge available about the biological role played by these factors, their molecular characterisation and regulation, as well as their signalling mechanisms. Yet, little is known about the role played by the neurotrophic factors in neurodegenerative diseases or whether the levels of these factors are modified following the use of neurorestorative treatment.

Neurodegenerative disorders, especially Parkinson and Alzheimer, are accompanied by modifications in the levels of NGF that depend on the extent to which the disease has progressed. A model of the changes in NGF content during neurodegenerative processes is also proposed.