PMID- 12787574 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20030806 LR - 20191025 IS - 0301-0082 (Print) IS - 0301-0082 (Linking) VI - 69 IP - 5 DP - 2003 Apr TI - Neurotrophin secretion: current facts and future prospects. PG - 341-74 AB - The proteins of the mammalian neurotrophin family (nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5)) were originally identified as neuronal survival factors. During the last decade, evidence has accumulated implicating them (especially BDNF) in addition in the regulation of synaptic transmission and synaptogenesis in the CNS. However, a detailed understanding of the secretion of neurotrophins from neurons is required to delineate their role in regulating synaptic function. Some crucial questions that need to be addressed include the sites of neurotrophin secretion (i.e. axonal versus dendritic; synaptic versus extrasynaptic) and the neuronal and synaptic activity patterns that trigger the release of neurotrophins. In this article, we review the current knowledge in the field of neurotrophin secretion, focussing on activity-dependent synaptic release of BDNF. The modality and the site of neurotrophin secretion are dependent on the processing and subsequent targeting of the neurotrophin precursor molecules. Therefore, the available data regarding formation and trafficking of neurotrophins in the secreting neurons are critically reviewed. In addition, we discuss existing evidence that the characteristics of neurotrophin secretion are similar (but not identical) to those of other neuropeptides. Finally, since BDNF has been proposed to play a critical role as an intercellular synaptic messenger in long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus, we try to reconcile this possible role of BDNF in LTP with the recently described features of synaptic BDNF secretion. FAU - Lessmann, Volkmar AU - Lessmann V AD - Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz 55128, Germany. lessmann@uni-mainz.de FAU - Gottmann, Kurt AU - Gottmann K FAU - Malcangio, Marzia AU - Malcangio M LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PT - Review PL - England TA - Prog Neurobiol JT - Progress in neurobiology JID - 0370121 RN - 0 (Nerve Growth Factors) RN - 0 (Peptides) SB - IM EIN - Prog Neurobiol. 2004 Feb;72(2):165-6 MH - Animals MH - Cell Line/metabolism MH - Cell Survival/physiology MH - Central Nervous System/metabolism MH - Forecasting MH - Humans MH - Nerve Growth Factors/classification/*metabolism MH - Neuronal Plasticity/physiology MH - Neurons/metabolism MH - Peptides/metabolism RF - 311 EDAT- 2003/06/06 05:00 MHDA- 2003/08/07 05:00 CRDT- 2003/06/06 05:00 PHST- 2003/06/06 05:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2003/08/07 05:00 [medline] PHST- 2003/06/06 05:00 [entrez] AID - S0301008203000194 [pii] AID - 10.1016/s0301-0082(03)00019-4 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Prog Neurobiol. 2003 Apr;69(5):341-74. doi: 10.1016/s0301-0082(03)00019-4.