Neuroprotective factor

Neuroprotective factors are a broad class of endogenous molecules, primarily proteins like neurotrophins and growth factors, that safeguard neurons from pathological insults and promote their survival and functional maintenance. These factors, including Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Nerve growth factor (NGF), and Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), play critical roles in the development and plasticity of the central and peripheral nervous systems (Huang & Reichardt, 2001, Annu Rev Neurosci). In many neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, there is a documented deficiency or impaired signaling of these factors, which accelerates neuronal death and cognitive or motor decline (Zuccato & Cattaneo, 2009, Nat Rev Neurol). Therapeutic strategies often focus on delivering exogenous factors, stimulating endogenous production, or using small molecules to mimic their effects. However, clinical application is frequently hindered by the difficulty of delivering these large molecules across the blood-brain barrier and the potential for off-target effects in non-neuronal tissues (Skaper, 2018, Methods Mol Biol).

Other names

Neurotrophic factorsNeuroprotectantsNeuronal survival factorsNeurotrophins

Neuroprotective factors function by activating pro-survival signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways, which inhibit pro-apoptotic proteins and enhance the expression of antioxidant enzymes and anti-apoptotic factors like Bcl-2 (Skaper, 2018, Methods Mol Biol). They also modulate synaptic transmission, reduce neuroinflammation, and promote structural plasticity to maintain neural circuit integrity.