Nerve growth factor, human skin ulcers and vascularization. Our experience

Prog Brain Res. 2004:146:515-22. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(03)46032-9.

Abstract

Cutaneous wound is known to elicit a series of typical cellular responses that include clotting, inflammatory infiltration, reepithelialization, the formation of granulation tissue, including new blood vessel, followed by tissue remodeling and wound contraction. The regulatory molecules implicated in these events are not well known. Neurotrophins and their receptors are trophic factors that are known to play important roles in cutaneous tissues, nerve development and reconstruction after injury. Among the neurotrophins, the nerve growth factor (NGF) was one of the earliest used for clinical studies. NGF has been tested for potential therapeutic application in neuropathies of the central and peripheral nervous system and more recently in human corneal and cutaneous ulcers. Here, I present and discuss data obtained in the last few years on the healing action of NGF in human and domestic animal skin ulcers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / etiology
  • Corneal Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Goats
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Ischemia / complications
  • Ischemia / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / etiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / etiology
  • Skin Ulcer / complications
  • Skin Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Skin Ulcer / physiopathology
  • Skin Ulcer / veterinary
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factor