GORDON CONFERENCE ON NEUROTROPHINS

描述（来自申请人的摘要）：我们正在申请资金，以帮助支付第四届神经营养因子戈登会议的主要费用，将于1999年6月举行。神经营养因子戈登会议的目标是提供一个半年一次的论坛，以促进有关神经营养因子的新信息的交流，并为他们的研究提供新的工具和方法的传播论坛。神经营养因子是影响神经系统内神经元和非神经元细胞的性质和功能的多肽生长和分化因子。在脊椎动物发育过程中，它们在调节神经细胞的存活、增殖、分化、轴突生长和引导以及突触形成中发挥重要作用。在成熟的神经系统中，它们继续通过调节神经递质、受体和离子通道的表达以及通过调节突触功效和连接来发挥作用。它们已被证明可以保护神经元免受各种毒性损伤，并在人类神经退行性疾病的动物模型中，提高了它们可用作治疗剂的可能性。在过去，对这些因素的研究对发育和细胞生物学产生了重大的概念影响，它们继续激励和指导许多现代发育生物学研究。虽然神经营养因子的最初定义集中于神经生长因子和称为神经营养蛋白（NGF、BDNF、NT-3和NT-4）的密切相关蛋白质的功能，但最近该定义已扩大到包括其他家族，包括神经生成细胞因子，如CNTF和LIF，以及TGF β超家族成员，如胶质源性神经营养因子和neurturin。绝大多数神经营养因子及其受体只是在过去十年中才被鉴定和克隆。它们的生物学功能正在被神经科学家、细胞和分子生物学家以及生理学家在体外和体内深入研究。发现新的因素仍然是一个积极的和富有成效的奋进。新的发现和功能表征的新策略已成为可能的新技术，并将进行讨论。由于这些因素的功能清单扩大，科学家们需要调整现有的方法或开发新的方法。这次会议提供了一个论坛，以促进熟悉这些问题的科学家与掌握新的或不熟悉的方法的科学家之间的交流。除了对基础科学的影响外，过去十年来，大学和生物技术公司开展了大量研究，旨在利用这些因素减轻神经系统疾病的症状。虽然并非总是成功的，但已经努力在阿尔茨海默病、肌萎缩侧索硬化症和帕金森病的实验性治疗中利用这些因子。研究这些因素在治疗感觉神经病变和控制疼痛中可能的有益作用的试验已经取得了很大进展。努力将在这次戈登会议，在过去的，以确保与会者在他们的工作可能的临床应用的教育，并有机会与科学家的主要研究重点是开发治疗应用的互动。总之，获得有关神经营养因子的生物活性和由其受体介导的信号转导机制的知识将导致对哺乳动物中枢和外周神经系统的发育、功能和修复的更好理解。本次会议旨在通过提供一个交流新见解和信息的论坛，帮助推进这项工作。

DESCRIPTION (from applicant's abstract): We are requesting funds to help defray the major expenses of the fourth Neurotrophin Gordon Conference, to be held in June, 1999. The goal of the Neurotrophin Gordon Conference is to provide a biannual forum to foster the exchange of new information about neurotrophic factors and to provide a forum for the dissemination of new tools and methodologies for their study. Neurotrophic factors are polypeptide growth and differentiation factors that influence the properties and functions of neurons and non-neuronal cells within the nervous system. During vertebrate development they play essential roles in regulating survival, proliferation, differentiation, axon growth and guidance and' synapse formation by neural cells, In the mature nervous system, they continue to function by regulating expression of neurotransmitters, receptors and ion channels as well as by modulating synaptic efficacy and connectivity. They have been shown to protect neurons from a variety of toxic insults and in animal models of human neurodegenerative diseases, raising the possibility that they can be used as therapeutic agents. In the past, studies on these factors have had major conceptual impacts on developmental and cell biology and they continue to motivate and guide much modern research in developmental biology. While the initial definition of neurotrophic factors focused on the functions of Nerve Growth Factor and closely related proteins named neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4), more recently this definition has been broadened to include other families, including the neuropoietic cytokines, such as CNTF and LIF, and members of the TGFbeta superfamily , such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin. The vast majority of neurotrophic factors and their receptors have only been identified and cloned in the past decade. Their biological functions are being intensively studied in vitro and in vivo by neuroscientists, cell and molecular biologists, and physiologists. Discovery of novel factors continues to be an active and productive endeavor. Novel strategies for discovery and functional characterization have been made possible by new technologies and will be discussed. The expanded list of functions attributed to these factors has required scientists to either adapt existing methods or develop new methods. This meeting provides a forum to facilitate interchanges between scientists familiar with the problems and those with new or unfamiliar methodologies. In addition to their impact on basic science, the past decade has witnessed an explosion of research, carried out in both universities and biotechnology companies, aimed at using these factors to alleviate symptoms of diseases of the nervous system. While not invariably successful, efforts have been made to utilize these factors in experimental treatments of Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, and Parkinson's Disease. Trials examining possible beneficial roles for these factors in treatment of sensory neuropathies and controlling pain are far advanced. An effort will be made in this Gordon Conference, as in past ones, to ensure that attendees are educated in possible clinical applications of their work and have the opportunity to interact with scientists whose major research focus is on developing therapeutic applications. In summary, knowledge obtained about the biological activities of neurotrophic factors and mechanisms of signal transduction mediated by their receptors will lead to greater understandings of the development, function, and repair of the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems. This meeting seeks to help advance this work by providing a forum for exchange of new insights and information.