The Role of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Its Precursor Forms in Oral Wound Healing

Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its different precursor forms are secreted into human saliva by salivary glands and are also produced by an array of cells in the tissues of the oral cavity. The major forms of NGF in human saliva are forms of pro-nerve growth factor (pro-NGF) and not mature NGF. The NGF receptors tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) are widely expressed on cells in the soft tissues of the human oral cavity, including keratinocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and leukocytes, and in ductal and acinar cells of all types of salivary glands. In vitro models show that NGF can contribute at most stages in the oral wound healing process: restitution, cell survival, apoptosis, cellular proliferation, inflammation, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. NGF may therefore take part in the effective wound healing in the oral cavity that occurs with little scarring. As pro-NGF forms appear to be the major form of NGF in human saliva, efforts should be made to study its function, specifically in the process of wound healing. In addition, animal and clinical studies should be initiated to examine if topical application of pro-NGF or NGF can be a therapy for chronic oral ulcerations and wounds.

Anthocyanins Extracted from Oryza sativa L. Prevent Fluorouracil-Induced Nuclear Factor-κB Activation in Oral Mucositis: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

“…Thus, from our findings, ANT-rich extract treatments may not result in direct repair during the initiation stage of the wound healing but promote a permeability of collagen to the lesion, epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, and repair the destructive mucosa during the late stage. Nevertheless, specific growth factors such as nerve growth factor [ 36 ] or drugs such as corticosteroids [ 37 ] which take part in the effective wound healing in the oral cavity should be employed to compare the efficacy with ANT-rich extract.…”

Salivary gland stem cells: A review of development, regeneration and cancer

“…Mice have the same three major pairs of salivary glands, located in a similar location ( Figure 1B). Mice differ from humans in that the SMG has an additional ductal network that connects the intercalated ducts to the striated ducts and is the main source of growth stimulatory molecules such as nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor (Gresik, Chung, Barka, & Schenkein, 1980;Schenck, Schreurs, Hayashi, & Helgeland, 2017).…”

Evaluation of innervation in cleft affected oral mucosa

“…Only few to moderate number of NGF-containing nerve fibres, nerve fibre bundles and neuroendocrine cells were observed in our patients' palate and alveolar process mucosa. NGF has been found to play a role in processes which are important in orofacial development -cell survival, cellular proliferation, restitution, up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and remodellation [22]. Therefore, it can be suggested that the detected number of NGF-containing neuronal structures in our patients' mucosa could possibly be not enough to provide for the previously mentioned processes and partially play a role in cleft development.…”

“…NGF plays an important role in survival, growth and maintenance of neurons in the mammalian nervous system, performing functions through two different receptors, TrkA and p75 [20,21]. NGF has been found to play a role in oral epithelial wound healing by participating in tissue remodelation, cellular proliferation, restitution, up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and inflammation [22].…”