Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can promote neuron development and survival, and axon prolongation and modeling. Peripheral nerve regeneration and myelin formation after injury need endogenous BDNF.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize research status of BDNF.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of CNKI and Pubmed databases was performed for articles published between January 2000 and August 2009 with the key words “nerve regeneration, BDNF” in Chinese and English. Articles with creativity, reliable evidence and close correlation with the content were included. Repetitive and review articles were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BDNF boosts myelin formation by binding to high-affinity receptor Trk and low-affinity receptor p75NTR.Compared to nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesized in surrouding target tissues, BDNF is mainly synthesized in central nervous system. However, BDNF mRNA is expressed increasingly following peripheral nerve injury. Various of experiments have demonstrated that normal peripheral Schwann cells can express a little BDNF. Currently, BDNF gene has been mediated through virus, transfected into stem cells, which can be transplanted into injured nerve sites.