EXPRESSION OF LOW-AFFINITY NEUROTROPHIN RECEPTOR P75(NTR) IN THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF HUMAN NEUROPATHIES

Expression of low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) was immuno histochemically examined in the peripheral nerve trunks, dorsal root g anglia, sympathetic nerve ganglia and spinal cords in various human ne urological diseases manifesting peripheral neuropathies. p75(NTR) was expressed in the nerves with axonal degeneration, and was also promine nt in the nerves with newly regenerating axons. In contrast, axonal pa thology tended to reduce the expression of p75(NTR) in the neuronal pe rikarya of the dorsal root genglion and sympathetic nerve ganglion neu rons. In the ventral and lateral horn cells, the p75(NTR) immunoreacti vity was not detected in the normal and diseased nerves except for amy loid polyneuropathy. These p75(NTR) expressions in the diseased human peripheral nervous tissues would be regulated by an underlying patholo gy-related process, and could play a role in peripheral nerve repair.