Neurotrophic factors in neurodegenerative disorders: Model of parkinson’s disease

Neurotrophic factors are compounds that enhance neuronal survival and differentiation. Most of these compounds exert their pharmacological actions on selective types of neurons, and therefore, are considered promising new therapeutic agents for the treatment of different neurodegenerative disorders characterized by selective degeneration of certain neuronal groups. Those compounds have been used in humans for several neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — ciliary derived neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Alzheimer’s disease and peripheral neuropathy — nerve growth factor (NGF) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) — glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).