Poon, V.Y. Choi, S. Park, M. 2024-01-20T11:34:10Z 2024-01-20T11:34:10Z 2021-09-02 2013-09 1663-3563 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/127742 Synapses are increasingly recognized as key structures that malfunction in disorders like schizophrenia, mental retardation, and neurodegenerative diseases. The importance and complexity of the synapse has fuelled research into the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and plasticity. In this regard, neurotrophic factors such as netrin, Wnt, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and others have gained prominence for their ability to regulate synaptic function. Several of these factors were first implicated in neuroprotection, neuronal growth, and axon guidance. However, their roles in synaptic development and function have become increasingly clear, and the downstream signaling pathways employed by these factors have begun to be elucidated. In this review, we will address the role of these factors and their downstream effectors in synaptic function in vivo and in cultured neurons. ？ 2013 Poon, Choi and Park. English Frontiers Research Foundation activin netrin neurotrophic factor transforming growth factor beta tumor necrosis factor alpha Wnt protein downstream processing human nerve cell growth nerve cell plasticity nerve fiber neuroprotection nonhuman review synaptic transmission synaptogenesis Growth factors in synaptic function Article 10.3389/fnsyn.2013.00006 1 Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience, v.5, no.SEP Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience 5 SEP scopus 2-s2.0-84892740447 Review activin netrin neurotrophic factor transforming growth factor beta tumor necrosis factor alpha Wnt protein downstream processing human nerve cell growth nerve cell plasticity nerve fiber neuroprotection nonhuman review synaptic transmission synaptogenesis Netrin Synaptic transmission and plasticity Synaptogenesis Tgf-β Tnf-α Wnt