Nerve growth factor (NGF): a novel mediator in inflammation and asthma?

Nerve growth factor(NGF), in addition to its essential activity on nerve gr owth and survival, has recently been shown to function as an important infl ammatory mediator. As evidenced from animal studies, NGF may contribute to the development of airway hyperresponsiveness and to an increased sensory a nd sympathetic innervation in the lung. A variety of cell sources have been studied and shown to synthetise and secrete NGF NGF also has a profound ef fect in the development of pulmonary inflammation and asthma-related sympto ms. NGF seems to be important in inflammation and should be described as a future potential target in airway inflammation, especially in asthma. (C) 2 001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.