BRAIN DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR (BDNF) IS A KEY MEDIATOR OF LEARNING PLASTICITY
ABSTRACT: The neurotrophins
(NTs) are growth factors that play a critical role in the development,
maintenance, survival, and death of the nervous system. BDNF is one of the
neurotrophin family and plays a pivotal function in synaptic and learning plasticity. BDNF activates two
different receptors, the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases and p75NTR, a member
of the TNF receptor superfamily. These two receptors have a very unique function,
Trk has a survival-dependent signaling through Ras-ERK, PI-3 kinases and PLC-γ,
and p75NTR has a dual function: as a survival via activation of NF-κB and
promoting apoptosis through activation of JNK, ceremide and some death adaptor
proteins. BDNF can modulate hippocampal LTP through TrkB, LTP is a
neurophysiologic model for learning process. BDNF can enhance acquisition of
information, storage, consolidation and also recall memories. TrkB receptor can
also regulate synaptic strength and plasticity. Several of apoptotic pathways
from p75NTR can be suppressed by TrkB receptor-mediating signaling and p75NTR
can modify ligand-binding specificity and affinity to TrkR with important development
consequences.
Keywords: neurotrophin, growth
factors, nervous system, synaptic function, learning plasticity, Trk receptors
Author: Yudiarto FL, Kasan U,
Judhayana AM, Purba J
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg050052
