Nerve Growth Factor Effects on the Immune System
Abstract
The nerve growth factor protein, NGF, has been shown to play a physiologic role in the development and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system, acting on sensory and sympathetic ganglia. In the central nervous system, NGF induces choline acetyltransferase in certain cholinergic regions and spares magnocellular neurons following fimbria transections. NGF has been shown to act in vivo on non-neuronal tissues as a modulator of immune and inflammatory reactivity. We have demonstrated the presence of receptors to NGF on rat and human mononuclear cells and the specific and saturable binding of NGF to these cells. We have also shown that NGF has activating and mitogenic effects on these cells. Our data is consistent with the hypothesis that NGF effects on tissues are important to differentiation of these tissues. Also, that NGF receptors on different tissues are slightly different structurally although the NGF binding properties are very similar. Keywords: NGF, Mitogen, Tissue culture, NGF receptor, Lectins, Interleukins.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 23, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA201978
Entities
People
- J. R. Perez-polo
Organizations
- University of Texas Medical Branch