ciliary neurotrophic factor

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a polypeptide hormone and neurotrophic cytokine that supports the survival of various neuronal cell types, including photoreceptors in the retina. It acts primarily through the gp130/LIFRβ receptor complex, promoting neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth. CNTF is naturally produced by Müller cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the eye, where it plays a key role in maintaining photoreceptor health. Therapeutically, CNTF is delivered via intraocular implants containing genetically engineered human RPE cells that secrete recombinant human CNTF; this approach slows progression of degenerative retinal diseases such as macular telangiectasia type 2 by supporting photoreceptor survival. The first approved cell-based therapy using this mechanism is revakinagene taroretcel-lwey (Encelto). Beyond ophthalmology, CNTF has been investigated for other neurological and metabolic disorders due to its broad trophic effects on neurons and non-neuronal tissues[1][3][4][6].

Brand names

Encelto

Other names

ciliary neurotrophic factorHUMAN CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTORHUMAN CNTFallogenic retinal epithelial cells transfected with plasmid vector expressing ciliary neurotrophic growth factorciliary neurotrophic factor implant - Neurotech