Neurotrophin signal transduction in the nervous system

Neurotrophins use two types of receptors, the Trk tyrosine kinase receptors and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), to regulate the growth, develo pment, survival and repair of the nervous system. These receptors can eithe r collaborate with or inhibit each other's actions to mediate neurotrophin effects. The development and survival of neurons is thus based upon the fun ctional interplay of the signals generated by Trk and p75NTR. In the past t wo years, the signaling pathways used by these receptors, including Akt and MAPK-induced signaling via Trk, and JNK, p53, and NF-kappa B signaling via p75NTR, have been identified. In addition, a number of novel p75NTR-intera cting proteins have been identified that transmit growth, survival, and apo ptotic signals.