Mini-review of neural regeneration peptides in brain development

Abstract

During mammalian and especially human ontogenetic brain development, cues of chemoattractive and chemorepulsive character are interacting in a spatial-temporal manner to direct neuroblasts to the dedicated locations in the neocortex. Finally, neuroblasts differentiate to fulfil their respective function in the neural circuit. Most if not all of these important molecules, that direct neuronal migration, display activity profiles in the nanomolar range. In contrast, the novel gene family of Neural Regeneration Peptides (NRPs) has a neuronal survival and chemo attraction profile in the subpicomolar range which makes the NRPs interesting candidates to represent the main constituents for neuronal chemo attraction during ontogenesis as well as injury or disease states of the brain. This review is focusing on early gene expression of the mouse nrp gene within the cortex as well as on the potential for the drug candidate NRP2945 to provide breakthrough treatment options for chronic disease states of the brain in the future.