Abstract
This review deals with the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in healing process as a result of injury. The role of both trkANGFR and p75NTR specific NGF receptors and their contribution in the complex network of tissue repair process, is discussed and highlighted in view of recent findings. In fact, NGF represents a significant advance in the treatment of etiologically different ulcers (corneal ulcers, pressure ulcers, post-viral infections, chemical burns) and might shorten the recovery process. For these diseases, no specific treatment is actually available. It is reasonable that apart from NGF and/or neurotrophins a different time-course of trkANGRF/p75NTR expression, might regulate the final process. In summary, these novel findings on the potential pro-healing capacity of NGF might open new possibilities for this growth factor in modulating the healing processes in several pathological conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 245-256 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2007 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The response to injury is characterized by the early inflammatory response, granulation tissue formation and finally tissue remodeling to obtain a fine balanced repair [1,4,5] . Numerous cell types take part in the process by releasing several mediators/factors acting in concert to achieve repair [2,3] . NGF was found to be useful in the treatment of etiologically different ulcers and may shorten the recovery process [44,45] . While the NGF effects on inflammatory/immune cells have been extensively studied, only recently it was observed that NGF is a strong inducer of epithelial cell and FB properties, the effector/target cells of repair process [23] . It is reasonable that apart from NGF, other NTs and likewise a different time-course of trkA NGRF /p75 NTR expression might regulate the final healing process. The old and recent findings highlight trkA NGFR and p75 NTR as crucial tools in this process, opening new therapeutic strategies. In particular, p75 NTR appears as an old receptor with new properties. Because of the lack of effective pharmacological agents for a well balanced tissue repair, NGF, and likewise the modulation of its receptors, appear as an original and valid therapeutic tool. Dr. Alessandra Micera , MSc, PhD student (born 1969) is working in the Laboratory of Ophthalmology, IRCCS-GB Bietti Eye Foundation and Campus Bio-Medico (Rome). She graduated in Biology (1993) at the University “La Sapienza” (Rome), working in the laboratory of Professor Rita Levi-Montalcini (Institute of Neurobiology, CNR, Rome), under the vision of Dr. Luigi Aloe, studying the role of nerve growth factor in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. She improved her knowledge in Molecular Biology (1994–1995) at the Medical Research Council, Cambridge (UK), under the supervision of Dr. M. Goedert. Co-author of 45 papers, published on peer-review international journals, actually she is waiting for PhD-degree in Immuno-Pharmacology (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, School of Pharmacy, Hadassah Medical School, Israel, supervisor Prof. Francesca Levi-Schaffer). Her major field of interest is to study the role of NGF in chronic allergic inflammatory disorders and related tissue remodelling. Dr. Alessandro Lambiase , MD, PhD (born 1966) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rome “Campus Bio-Medico”. He obtained his degree in Medicine (1991) and in Ophthalmology (1996) at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. He has worked in the laboratory of Professor Rita Levi-Montalcini (Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, CNR, Rome, Italy). He was fellow at the Department of Ophthalmology (Ospedale Civile di Venezia) on corneal diseases. He is Author of more than 90 papers. His main field of interest is the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of the ocular surface diseases. In particular the conjunctival allergic inflammation, the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers with nerve growth factor, and the application of corneal stem cells in limbal deficiency. Dr. Barbara Stampachiacchiere , MSc, PhD student (born 1972) is actually working in the Laboratory of Ophthalmology, IRCCS-GB Bietti Eye Foundation and Campus Bio-Medico (Rome). She graduated in Biology at the University “La Sapienza” (Rome) in 2002, working at the Molecular Biology laboratory (supervisor Dr. Lucia Fabiani). She has worked in the laboratory of Professor Rita Levi-Montacini (Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, CNR, Rome), under the supervision of Dr. Luigi Aloe, studying the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. She improved her knowledge in molecular biology at Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Hamburg (short-time/2003), under the supervision of Professor Ralph Paus. Co-author of 10 papers, published on peer-review international journals, actually she is attempting her PhD-program in Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University “Tor Vergata”, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Bonini (Campus Bio-Medico, Rome). Her major field of interest is to study the role of NGF in chronic autoimmune disorders of the ocular surface and related tissue remodelling. Prof. Stefano Bonini , MD (born 1953) is the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rome “Campus Bio-Medico”. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Rome in 1977. He obtained his degree in Ophthalmology (1981) and Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1984) at the University of Rome La Sapienza. From 1985–1987 he was trained by Dr. Mathea R. Allansmith in Ocular Allergy at Harvard Medical School and Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston, USA. From 1985–2002 he was part (as assistant professor and associate professor) of the Faculty at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Scientific Director of the G.B. Bietti Eye Foundation in Rome. In 2002 he was appointed Chairman of the Eye Clinic at the University of Rome Campus Bio-Medico. He is the Author of 210 papers and his main field of interest is ocular allergy and the inflammation of the ocular surface. Among his most original papers are the detection of the late-phase allergic reaction in the conjunctiva, the treatment of neurotrophic corneal ulcers with nerve growth factor, and the description of the conjunctiva and cornea stem cells and their clinical transplantation in severe cornea alkali burns. Sergio Bonini (July 22, 1947) is Professor of Internal Medicine at the Second University of Naples, Italy. Research areas of Prof. Bonini include allergic and autoimmune diseases with studies on autoantibodies, IgE, allergens, mechanisms of allergic inflammation, genetics of atopy. Recent research has mainly dealt with allergic eye disease as a model of allergic and eosinophilic inflammation. Current studies are focused on neural (nerve growth factor) and endocrine (sex hormones) modulation of allergic inflammation as well as on relationships between allergy and environmental factors (infections, smoking, sports). Since 1996 S. Bonini has a research appointment at the Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Italian National Research Council (CNR) for studies on “Modulation of allergic inflammation”. Scientific production of Prof. Bonini includes approximately 500 scientific articles, chapters of books, proceedings of international congresses (more than 150 indexed by ISI medline). The most cited papers among those published by him and his research group include the original description of a late-phase reaction in the eye, the first report on the potential relevance of NGF in allergic inflammation and tissue remodelling, the description of genetic and environmental factors influencing allergy phenotypes (IgE, basophil histamine release, inflammatory cells’ functions, tissue hyperreactivity). Prof. Bonini has been President (1998–2001) of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (Secretary General 1986–1998). He is member of several national and international scientific societies and member of the Research & Development Commission of the Italian Drug Agency. Prof. Francesca Levi-Schaffer is Chairman of and Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics of the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Medicine at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is head of the Teaching Unit of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy. Prof. Levi-Schaffer holds the Isaac and Myrna Kaye Chair in Immunopharmacology, and is an honorary senior lecturer at the National Heart and Lung Institute of the Imperial College in London. She was born in Italy and completed her MSc degree in pharmacy at the University of Milano. In 1978 she completed her PhD degree in Immunology at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel. Her post-doctoral training was at Harvard Medical School. Prof. Levi-Schaffer has published 118 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 50 reviews and editorials and 12 book chapters. She also has two provisional patents pending.
Keywords
- Fibrosis
- NGF
- Wound-healing
- p75
- trkA