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On the Molecular Basis Linking Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) to Alzheimer’s Disease

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SUMMARY

1. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is pathologically defined by the deposition of amyloid peptide and neurofibrillary tangles and is characterized by a progressive loss of cognition and memory function, due to marked cortical cholinergic depletion.

2. Cholinergic cortical innervation is provided by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. The neurotrophin Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) promotes survival and differentiation of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.

3. This assertion has been at the basis of the hypothesis developed in the last 20 years, whereby NGF deprivation would be one of the factor involved in the etiology of sporadic forms of AD.

4. In this review, we shall summarize data that lead to the production and characterization of a mouse model for AD (AD11 anti-NGF mice), based on the expression of transgenic antibodies neutralizing NGF. The AD-like phenotype of AD11 mice will be discussed on the basis of recent studies that have posed NGF and its precursor pro-NGF back to the stage of AD-like neurodegeneration, showing the involvement of the precursor pro-NGF in one of the cascades leading to AD neurodegeneration.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Dr. Piero Giulio Giulianini (University of Trieste) for performing electron microscopy analysis of AD11 brain extracts and to Dr. Gabriele Ugolini for helpful discussions and Mrs. Lucia de Caprio for reading the manuscript.

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  1. Lay Line Genomics S.p.A., Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Simona Capsoni & Antonino Cattaneo

  2. European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Antonino Cattaneo

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Capsoni, S., Cattaneo, A. On the Molecular Basis Linking Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) to Alzheimer’s Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 26, 617–631 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-006-9112-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-006-9112-2

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