Neurotrophins comprise a family of growth factors that are expressed in a variety of cell types, and which exert influences on a large range of cellular activities that are important for development and the maintenance of the nervous system, as well as in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. More recently, neurotrophins have been implicated in influencing the dynamic and complex signals...

The development of nerve connections is thought to involve competition among axons for survival promoting factors, or neurotrophins, which are released by the cells that are innervated by the axons. Although the notion of competition is widely used within neurobiology, there is little understanding of the nature of the competitive process and the underlying mechanisms. We present a new theoreti...

In addition to their immune cell origin and immunological effects, cytokines are produced by neuronal and glial cells and can influence nerve growth and plasticity. Likewise, in addition to their target tissue origin and neurotrophic effects, the neurotrophins nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are secreted by immune cells and can promote immune cell growth and activity. ...

Neurotrophins are important proteins that regulate survival, development and function of neurons. They are produced by a variety of cells and exert their effects upon binding to specific tyrosine kinase receptors. The first neurotrophin to be identified was Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). From the pioneer studies performed by Rita-Levi Montalcini, awarded with the Nobel Prize, other neurotrophins ha...

Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that regulate neuronal survival, synaptic function, and neurotransmitter release, and elicit the plasticity and growth of axons within the adult central and peripheral nervous system. Since the 1950s, these factors have been extensively studied in traumatic injury models. Here we review several members of the classical family of neurotrophins, the receptor...

Allergic bronchial asthma (BA) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, development of airway hyperreactivity and recurrent reversible airway obstruction. T-helper 2 cells and their products have been shown to play an important role in this process. In contrast, the mechanisms by which immune cells interact with the cells residing in lung and airways, such as neurons, epithelial or smoo...