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Nerve Growth Factor in Alcohol Use Disorders.
Flavio Maria Ceci1, Giampiero Ferraguti1, Carla Petrella2
1Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University Hospital of Rome, Italy.
Current Neuropharmacology
|April 30, 2020
Summary
Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a role in brain development and is affected by alcohol. This review examines NGF
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor crucial for neuronal survival, differentiation, and proliferation.
- NGF exerts its biological activity through tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and p75 neurotrophin receptors.
- Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) and prenatal alcohol exposure leading to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) significantly impact brain development and cognitive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical findings on the role of NGF in humans and animals exposed to alcohol.
- To elucidate the impact of prenatal, chronic, and binge alcohol consumption on NGF.
- To understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol's effects on NGF signaling.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on NGF and alcohol exposure.
- Analysis of research investigating NGF's involvement in AUD and FASD.
- Synthesis of findings from human and animal models.
Main Results:
- Alcohol consumption, particularly during development, alters NGF levels and signaling pathways.
- NGF dysregulation is implicated in the neurodevelopmental deficits observed in FASD.
- Chronic and binge alcohol use in adults affects NGF, potentially contributing to cognitive impairments.
Conclusions:
- NGF is a key player in the neurobiological consequences of alcohol exposure.
- Targeting NGF pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for alcohol-related neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between NGF and alcohol.
Keywords:
NGFaddictionalcohol use disordersbinge drinkingchronic alcohol consumptionfetal alcohol spectrum disordersMore Related Videos
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