Role of BDNF in the taste system.

Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that regulate neural survival, development, function and plasticity in the central and the peripheral nervous system. There are four neurotrophins: NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4. Among them, BDNF is mostly studied in the taste system due to its high expression. Recent studies have shown BDNF play an important role in the developmental and mature taste system, by regulating survival of taste cells and geniculate ganglion neurons, and maintaining and guiding taste nerve innervations. These studies imply BDNF has great potentialities for therapeutic usage to enhance sensory regeneration following nerve injury, with aging, and in some neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]