It is beyond doubt that the neurotrophin family of proteins plays key roles in determining the fate of the neuron, not only during embryonic development, but also in the adult brain. Neurotrophins such as NGF (nerve growth factor) and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) can play dual roles: first, in neuronal survival and death, and, secondly, in activity-dependent plasticity. The neurotrophins manifest their effects by binding to two discrete receptor subtypes: the Trk (tropomyosin receptor kinase) family of RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases) and the p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor). The differential activation of these receptors by the mature neurotrophins and their precursors, the proneurotrophins, renders analysis of the biological functions of these receptors in the adult brain highly complex. Here, we briefly give a broad review of current knowledge of the roles of neurotrophins in the adult brain, including expression of hippocampal plasticity, neurodegeneration and exercise-induced neuroprotection.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2007
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
March 20 2007
Neurotrophins and their receptors: roles in plasticity, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection
A. Hennigan;
A. Hennigan
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
R.M. O'Callaghan;
R.M. O'Callaghan
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
Á.M. Kelly
Á.M. Kelly
1
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 08 2006
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2007 The Biochemical Society
2007
Biochem Soc Trans (2007) 35 (2): 424–427.
Article history
Received:
September 08 2006
Citation
A. Hennigan, R.M. O'Callaghan, Á.M. Kelly; Neurotrophins and their receptors: roles in plasticity, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2007; 35 (2): 424–427. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0350424
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Get Email Alerts
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |