What Is Glial Cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF)?

When it comes to the brain, neurons get all the love. But what if there were other brain cell types that are more common than neurons? It turns out that there are: glial cells!

“Glial” is Latin for “glue,” coming from the idea that these cells mainly hold the neurons together. There is a special molecule from these cells that helps nourish neurons: Glial Cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) [R].

GDNF is a “neurotrophic factor,” which means it affects when, where, and how much the nerves grow. Like its neurotrophic factor cousins, NGF and BDNF, it also affects many systems outside the brain. GDNF is primarily produced by glial cells, the “support cells” of the brain. It is also produced by some neurons [R].

It is involved in many important brain functions, especially in brain regions where dopamine is the main neurotransmitter [R, R].

GDNF Functions

As a neurotrophic factor, GDNF has three main functions [R, R, R]:

1. protective, meaning that it prevents brain cells from dying.
2. “trophic,” meaning that it promotes the growth of new and existing brain cells.
3. restorative, meaning that it changes how neurons “talk” to each other in order to enhance certain brain functions.

Together, these three functions mean that GDNF plays many important roles in well-being and disease.

While the neurotrophic factors BDNF, NGF, and GDNF all play similar overall roles in the brain, they each affect different types of neurons. This allows them to influence brain cell growth in unique ways [R].

For example, both BDNF and GDNF affect protein production in the brain’s serotonin system, but BDNF is more common in the cortex and hippocampus while GDNF mainly affects the striatum [R].

However, unlike BDNF, GDNF cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. This means it cannot be taken directly and must be increased indirectly through other means, within the brain [R].

It works by activating [R, R]:

• GDNF receptor alpha-1 (GFRA1)
• GDNF receptor alpha-2 (GFRA2

The post GDNF Protein: Health Effects + Factors That Increase It appeared first on SelfHacked.