Browsing by Subject "Nerve growth factors"

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    Meteorin-like promotes heart repair through endothelial KIT receptor tyrosine kinase
    (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2022) Reboll, Marc R.; Klede, Stefanie; Taft, Manuel H.; Cai, Chen-Leng; Field, Loren J.; Lavine, Kory J.; Koenig, Andrew L.; Fleischauer, Jenni; Meyer, Johann; Schambach, Axel; Niessen, Hans W.; Kosanke, Maike; van den Heuvel, Joop; Pich, Andreas; Bauersachs, Johann; Wu, Xuekun; Zheng, Linqun; Wang, Yong; Korf-Klingebiel, Mortimer; Polten, Felix; Wollert, Kai C.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Effective tissue repair after myocardial infarction entails a vigorous angiogenic response, guided by incompletely defined immune cell-endothelial cell interactions. We identify the monocyte- and macrophage-derived cytokine METRNL (meteorin-like) as a driver of postinfarction angiogenesis and high-affinity ligand for the stem cell factor receptor KIT (KIT receptor tyrosine kinase). METRNL mediated angiogenic effects in cultured human endothelial cells through KIT-dependent signaling pathways. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction, METRNL promoted infarct repair by selectively expanding the KIT-expressing endothelial cell population in the infarct border zone. Metrnl-deficient mice failed to mount this KIT-dependent angiogenic response and developed severe postinfarction heart failure. Our data establish METRNL as a KIT receptor ligand in the context of ischemic tissue repair.
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    No pain, no gain? The effects of pain-promoting neuropeptides and neurotrophins on fracture healing
    (Elsevier, 2020-02) Sun, Seungyup; Diggins, Nicklaus H.; Gunderson, Zachary J.; Fehrenbacher, Jill C.; White, Fletcher A.; Kacena, Melissa A.; Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine
    Neuropeptides and neurotrophins are key regulators of peripheral nociceptive nerves and contribute to the induction, sensitization, and maintenance of pain. It is now known that these peptides also regulate non-neuronal tissues, including bone. Here, we review the effects of numerous neuropeptides and neurotrophins on fracture healing. The neuropeptides calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) have varying effects on osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity. Ultimately, CGRP and SP both accelerate fracture healing, while VIP and PACAP seem to negatively impact healing. Unlike the aforementioned neuropeptides, the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have more uniform effects. Both factors upregulate osteoblastic activity, osteoclastic activity, and, in vivo, stimulate osteogenesis to promote fracture healing. Future research will need to clarify the exact mechanism by which the neuropeptides and neurotrophins influence fracture healing. Specifically, understanding the optimal expression patterns for these proteins in the fracture healing process may lead to therapies that can maximize their bone-healing capabilities and minimize their pain-promoting effects. Finally, further examination of protein-sequestering antibodies and/or small molecule agonists and antagonists may lead to new therapies that can decrease the rate of delayed union/nonunion outcomes and fracture-associated pain.