Neurotrophic factors

neurotrophic factors

Neurotrophic factors are natural proteins that help nerve cells survive, grow, and repair themselves. They act like life-support signals for neurons, guiding development and keeping cells healthy throughout life. Examples include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). These molecules attach to specific receptors on neurons and turn on programs that promote growth, resist stress, and prevent cell death. Because they support neuron health, researchers study them as possible ways to slow or reverse damage from injury or disease. Delivering these proteins to the right place in the nervous system is a major challenge because they can be unstable and have trouble crossing natural barriers like the blood-brain barrier. Scientists are testing different delivery methods such as injections, gene therapy, or small molecules that mimic their action. Understanding how these factors work also helps explain why some cells die in disease and how we might protect or regenerate them, making them important both as clues to nerve health and as promising tools for new treatments.