Ciliary neurotrophic factor as a potential biomarker of cerebral pathologies

Abstract

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a pluripotent neurotrophic factor with high neuroprotective potential, a neurocytokine that has demonstrated potential in the therapy of neurodegenerative, psychiatric and metabolic diseases. Preclinical data support the general concept of its potential neuroprotective and trophic effects, and recent clinical data support the potential role of CNTF in the treatment of neurodegeneration and obesity. A number of data indicate the involvement of CNTF in stress reactivity and the pathogenesis of affective disorders. Data from studies of CNTF levels in invasive (blood) and non-invasive (tears) human biomaterials suggest the possibility of its use as a biomarker for certain brain diseases, although more research is needed to confirm this.