The in vitro and in vivo actions of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) suggest that endogenous CNTF plays a role in nervous system development and maintenance. CNTF produces most, possibly all, of its effects by binding to a protein referred to as CNTF receptor alpha (CNTFRalpha). Information on CNTFRalpha tissue expression and dynamics would be advanced by the availability of reagents suitable...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is presumed to play a role as a survival factor in neuronal cells, but little is known about its role in the kidney. To investigate this, the expression of CNTF and CNTF receptor alpha (CNTFR alpha) was analyzed in the ischemic rat kidney. An ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced by clamping both renal arteries for 45 min. Animals were killed at 1, 2, ...

Obesity is characterized by an expanded adipose tissue mass, and reversing obesity reduces the risk of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) reverses obesity by promoting the preferential loss of white adipose tissue. We evaluated the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which CNTF regulates adiposity. Obese mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with ...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a promyelinating trophic factor, and the mechanisms by which CNTF expression could be increased in the brain are poorly understood. Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is one of the most widely used analgesics. Interestingly, aspirin increased mRNA and protein expression of CNTF in primary mouse and human astrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Aspirin ...

Purpose To study the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) concentration in the aqueous humor (AH), lacrimal fluid (LF), and blood serum (BS) in patients with age-related cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods CNTF concentrations were studied in 61 patients with age-related cataract, 55 patients with POAG combined with cataract, and 29 healthy controls (one eye in each person)....

PURPOSE To examine whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has a chemotactic effect on macrophages and whether macrophages are involved in CNTF-induced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axonal regeneration after optic nerve (ON) injury. METHODS Adult Fischer 344 rats received an autologous peripheral nerve graft onto transected ON for injured axons to grow. CNTF was applied intravit...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a unique member of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family, whose receptor subunit for ligand binding is exclusively expressed in the nervous system and muscle. The role of CNTF in mammalian development remains unknown. We recently reported the specific expression of CNTF in the pineal gland and eyes. To further examine the expression pattern and role of CNTF in de...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has potent survival-promoting effects on motoneurons in vitro and in vivo. We examined knockout mice with null mutations of the gene for either CNTF itself or the alpha-subunit of the CNTF receptor (CNTFRalpha) to assess whether CNTF and/or its receptors are involved in the development of a sexually dimorphic neuromuscular system. Male rodents have many more m...

Focal brain ischemia in adult rats rapidly and robustly induces neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) but there are few and inconsistent reports in mice, presenting a hurdle to genetically investigate the endogenous neurogenic regulators such as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). Here, we first provide a platform for further studies by showing that middle cerebral artery occlusion in a...

PURPOSE To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) delivered over a period of up to 2 years by an intraocular encapsulated cell technology (ECT) implant in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and geographic atrophy (GA). METHODS Patients from phase 1 RP (CNTF1); phase 2 GA (CNTF2); and phase 2 late and early stage RP (CNTF3, and CNTF4) studies received an ECT-C...