Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Ex Vivo Release of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide from the Trigeminovascular System in Rodents
Published on: May 16, 2022
NGF/TrkA Signaling as a Therapeutic Target for Pain
Munetaka Hirose1, Yoshihiro Kuroda2, Eri Murata3
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan.
Abstract:
Nerve growth factor (NGF) was first discovered approximately 60 years ago by Rita Levi-Montalcini as a protein that induces the growth of nerves. It is now known that NGF is also associated with Alzheimer's disease and intractable pain, and hence, it, along with its high-affinity receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) A, is considered to be 1 of the new targets for therapies being developed to treat these diseases. Anti-NGF antibody and TrkA inhibitors are known drugs that suppress NGF/TrkA signaling, and many drugs of these classes have been developed thus far. Interestingly, local anesthetics also possess TrkA inhibitory effects. This manuscript describes the development of an analgesic that suppresses NGF/TrkA signaling, which is anticipated to be 1 of the new methods to treat intractable pain.
Related Concept Videos
Enzyme-linked Receptors
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
Analgesia and Pain Management
Nociception
G Protein-coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
NF-kB-dependent Signaling Pathway

