Neurotrophic Factors in Health and Disease

Neurotrophic factors, including neurotrophins and neuropeptides, are secreted proteins that regulate the survival, development, and physiological functions of neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These factors are not only essential for normal neuronal activity but may also play a role in neurodegeneration following trauma, ischemia, and neuroinflammatory reactions. A deficiency of neurotrophic factors or the deregulation of their cognate receptors is causally associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, i.e., Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrophic factors are also involved in the modulation of cellular processes in the peripheral nervous system and participate in disorders in various tissues, such as muscle, and the cardiovascular system. This Special Issue of Cells summarizes the current knowledge regarding the roles of different neurotrophic factors in health and various diseases, focusing on the complex cell biology and pharmacology of these factors on the cellular, molecular, and clinical levels.