In article <2nnikt$t1i at news.delphi.com>, rstetta at news.delphi.com
(RSTETTA at DELPHI.COM) writes:
An additional factor that may play a role is CNTF (ciliary
neurotrophic factor). Regeneron has been testing CNTF is ALS
patients following some promising results in animals. However, there
have been a number of problems concerning sideaffects. See New and
Comments in Science a couple or three weeks ago.
Motoneurons have been shown contain various species of neurotrophic
receptors of the proto-oncogene family trk. For example, TrkB is
the high-affinity receptor for BDNF and trkC is the high-affinity
receptor for NT-3. p75 the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor,
capable of binding all of the known neurotrophins. Its function is
not clear and a number of models have been suggested. p75 is
expressed in developing motoneurons and motoneurons that have been
axomotomized. We are presenting data at next year's Soc. Neurosci.
meeting showing a disruption of sensory input also leads to an
up-regulation of p75 in motoneurons.
David P. Crockett
crockett at UMDNJ.EDU
