Recent Advances in NGF and Related Molecules: The Continuum of the NGF "Saga"

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a prototype of neurotrophic factors (NTFs), which have diverse effects in the normal and diseased brain. This book discusses advances in NTF research, including NGF, BDNF, and GDNF ligands, and their role in development, regeneration, neuroprotection, Alzheimer's disease, nociception, sensory information processing, and behavior. The authors highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of NTFs in psychiatric disorders and obesity management, and their research in veterinary medicine.

Format: Hardback
Length: 307 pages
Publication date: 28 August 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

More than fifty years after its initial discovery by Rita Levi Montalcini and Stanley Cohen and the proposal of the neurotrophic theory, nerve growth factor (NGF) has emerged as the prototype of a family of biologically active molecules known as neurotrophic factors (NTFs). This comprehensive book delves into significant advancements in NTF research, spanning from fundamental scientific discoveries to clinical applications. While NGF takes center stage, individual chapters also explore the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ligands of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family, which have garnered increasing interest within the neuroscience community due to their diverse effects on both normal and diseased brains.

In the first part of the book, the authors provide the necessary background for the subsequent chapters and delve into the intricate mechanisms and pathways of NGF signal transduction. The subsequent sections examine the regenerative activity and neuroprotective capabilities of NGF during development, as well as its role in maintaining normal and diseased tissues in adulthood. Special attention is given to exploring NGF's implications in Alzheimer's disease and pain perception. Furthermore, the book explores NGF's role in processing sensory information and its influence on behavior. The concluding chapter offers an overview of the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of NTFs in managing psychiatric disorders and obesity, while also highlighting NGF research in veterinary medicine.

This volume features contributions from numerous esteemed authors who actively participated in the Second International Rita Levi-Montalcini Meeting, held in Bologna, Italy, in 2019. The book encompasses a wide range of critical topics in past and current NTF research, making it appealing to both basic researchers and clinicians in the field.

Weight: 801g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030740450
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021