RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Programmed Cell Death in Neurons: Focus on the Pathway of Nerve Growth Factor Deprivation-Induced Death of Sympathetic Neurons
JF Molecular Pharmacology
JO Mol Pharmacol
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 897
OP 906
DO 10.1124/mol.51.6.897
VO 51
IS 6
A1 Deshmukh, Mohanish
A1 Johnson, Eugene M.
YR 1997
UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/51/6/897.abstract
AB Extensive programmed cell death (PCD) occurs in the developing nervous system. Neuronal death occurs, at least in part, because neurons are produced in excess during development and compete with each other for the limited amounts of the survival-promoting trophic factors secreted by target tissues. Neuronal death is apoptotic and utilizes components that are conserved in other PCD pathways. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of trophic factor-dependent neuronal cell death by focusing on the pathway of nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation-induced sympathetic neuronal death. We describe the biochemical and genetic events that occur in NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons undergoing PCD. Participation of the Bcl-2 family of proteins and the interleukin-1β-converting enzyme family of proteases (caspases) in this and other models of neuronal death is also examined. The order and importance of these components during NGF deprivation-induced sympathetic neuronal death are discussed.