The Emerging Role of BDNF/TrkB Signaling in Cardiovascular Diseases
Peng-Zhou Hang,
Hua Zhu,
Pei-Feng Li,
Jie Liu,
Feng-Qin Ge,
Jing Zhao,
Zhi-Min Du
Affiliations
Peng-Zhou Hang
Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou 225001, China
Hua Zhu
Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou 225001, China
Pei-Feng Li
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (University Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin 150086, China
Jie Liu
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (University Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin 150086, China
Feng-Qin Ge
Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou 225001, China
Jing Zhao
Medical Research Center, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, Yangzhou 225001, China
Zhi-Min Du
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (University Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin 150086, China
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most abundant neurotrophins in the central nervous system. Numerous studies suggest that BDNF has extensive roles by binding to its specific receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB), and thereby triggering downstream signaling pathways. Recently, growing evidence highlights that the BDNF/TrkB pathway is expressed in the cardiovascular system and closely associated with the development and outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and metabolic diseases. Furthermore, circulating BDNF has also been revealed as a new potential biomarker for both diagnosis and prognosis of CVD. In this review, we discuss the current evidence of the emerging role of BDNF/TrkB signaling and address the challenges that remain in translating these discoveries to novel therapeutic strategies for CVD.
