ASTROGLIAL NEUROTROPHIC AND NEURITE-PROMOTING FACTORS

Astroglial cells express neurotrophic and/or neurite growth-promoting factors, including (a) peptide growth factors (e.g. nerve growth facto rs, ciliary neuronotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor), (b) neur otransmitters (such as glutamate, neuropeptide Y), (c) cell adhesion m olecules (e.g. N-CAM) and (d) extracellular matrix proteins (including laminin, fibronectin and proteoglycans). Expression of these molecule s is regulated during development and/or after CNS lesions. Some of th e astroglial peptide growth factors, including nerve growth factor, ba sic fibroblast growth factor and ciliary neuronotrophic factor, have b een shown to exert protective or even regenerative effects on neurons following traumatic, chemical or ischemic lesions. These observations illustrate the enormous therapeutic potential of astroglia-derived neu rotrophic molecules.