| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Altered nerve growth factor level in the optic nerve of patients affected by multiple sclerosisInstitute of Neurobiology, CNR, Viale Marx 43/11, 00137 Rome, Italy
Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Viale Marx 43/11, 00137 Rome, Italy, Department of Ophthalmology, University of 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital 'SS Giovanni e Paolo', Venice, Italy
Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Viale Marx 43/11, 00137 Rome, Italy In this study we measured with a highly sensitive two-site immunoenzymatic assay the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in human optic nerve affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). The result of this study showed an elevated increase of NGF in the MS optic nerves, as compared to the level of NGF found in the optic nerves non-affected by this demyelinating disorder. Moreover, the results showed that the optic nerves also expressed trkA NGF receptor and NGFmRNA, most likely by oligodendrocytes, implying that NGF is locally produced and suggesting that the presence of NGF might be regulated by an autocrine mechanism. These and other ongoing studies on animal models indicate that altered NGF levels are among one of the early symptoms of these demyelinating diseases. The physiopathological role of NGF in the optic nerve during demyelinating disorders remains however to be defined.
Key Words: demyelinating disorders • multiple sclerosis • NGF • NGFmRNA • oligodendrocytes • optic nerve • trkA
Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 5, No. 6,
389-394 (1999) This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
 |
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
