Abstract
Research in the past few years has produced exciting progress in our understanding of neurotrophic factors. Robust effects of neurotrophic factors on neuronal survival and differentiation in animal studies have encouraged initiation of clinical trials for diseases of the human nervous system. In this article, the data for the actions of neurotrophic factors and the rationale for their use in clinical trials are reviewed. Recent data demonstrating efficacy of insulin-like growth factor 1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis suggest that neurotrophic factors can be used to treat neurological disease.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / drug therapy
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Animals
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Cytokines / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / therapeutic use
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / therapeutic use
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Motor Neuron Disease / drug therapy*
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Motor Neuron Disease / physiopathology
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Nerve Growth Factors / therapeutic use*
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
Substances
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Cytokines
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor II