VGF ili VGF induktivan nervnim faktorom rasta je protein i neuropeptid koji učestvuje u regulaciji energijske homeostaze, metabolizma[1] i sinaptičke plastičnosti.[2] Ovaj protein su otkrili 1985. Levi et al.[3] u eksperimentu sa PC12 ćelijama. VGF gen kodira prekurzor koji se proteolitički deli u polipeptide različitih masa, koji imaju mnoštovo funkcija. Najbolje izučena funkcija je uloga TLQP-21 u kontroli apetita i inflamacije.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Izražavanje VGF i peptida izvedenih iz VGF je detektovano u delu neurona centralnog i perifernog nervnog sistema i specifičnim populacijama endokrinih ćelija u adenohipofizi, adrenalnoj meduli, gastrointestinalnom traktu, i pancreasu.[12] VGF izražavanje indukuju NGF, CREB i BDNF, a reguliše neurotrofin-3.[13][14] Fizičko vežvanje znatno povišava VGF izražavanje u hipokampalnom tkivu miševa i povećava iražavanje neurotrofne signalne kaskade za koju se smatra da je u osnovi dejstva antidepresanata.[15][16][17][18]
^Hahm S, Mizuno TM, Wu TJ, Wisor JP, Priest CA, Kozak CA, Boozer CN, Peng B, McEvoy RC, Good P, Kelley KA, Takahashi JS, Pintar JE, Roberts JL, Mobbs CV, Salton SR (1999). „Targeted deletion of the Vgf gene indicates that the encoded secretory peptide precursor plays a novel role in the regulation of energy balance”. Neuron. 23 (3): 537—48. PMID10433265. doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(00)80806-5.
^Alder J, Thakker-Varia S, Bangasser DA, Kuroiwa M, Plummer MR, Shors TJ, Black IB (2003). „Brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced gene expression reveals novel actions of VGF in hippocampal synaptic plasticity”. Journal of Neuroscience. 23 (34): 10800—8. PMID14645472.
^Levi A, Eldridge JD, Paterson BM (1985). „Molecular cloning of a gene sequence regulated by nerve growth factor”. Science. 229 (4711): 393—5. PMID3839317. doi:10.1126/science.3839317.
^Rizzi R, Bartolomucci A, Moles A, D'Amato F, Sacerdote P, Levi A, La Corte G, Ciotti MT, Possenti R, Pavone F (2008). „The VGF-derived peptide TLQP-21: a new modulatory peptide for inflammatory pain”. Neuroscience Letters. 441 (1): 129—33. PMID18586396. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2008.06.018.
^Bartolomucci A, Moles A, Levi A, Possenti R (2008). „Pathophysiological role of TLQP-21: gastrointestinal and metabolic functions”. Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD. 13 (3): e49—54. PMID19011364.
^D'Amato F, Noli B, Brancia C, Cocco C, Flore G, Collu M, Nicolussi P, Ferri GL (2008). „Differential distribution of VGF-derived peptides in the adrenal medulla and evidence for their selective modulation”. The Journal of Endocrinology. 197 (2): 359—69. PMID18434366. doi:10.1677/JOE-07-0346.
^Jethwa PH, Ebling FJ (2008). „Role of VGF-derived peptides in the control of food intake, body weight and reproduction”. Neuroendocrinology. 88 (2): 80—7. PMID18408361. doi:10.1159/000127319.
^Levi A, Ferri GL, Watson E, Possenti R, Salton SR (2004). „Processing, distribution, and function of VGF, a neuronal and endocrine peptide precursor”. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 24 (4): 517—33. PMID15233376. doi:10.1023/B:CEMN.0000023627.79947.22.
^Mandolesi G, Gargano S, Pennuto M, Illi B, Molfetta R, Soucek L, Mosca L, Levi A, Jucker R, Nasi S (2002). „NGF-dependent and tissue-specific transcription of vgf is regulated by a CREB-p300 and bHLH factor interaction”. FEBS Letters. 510 (1–2): 50—6. PMID11755530. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(01)03227-6.