The S100B protein is an acidic calcium binding protein with a molecular weight of 21 kD and is a member of the S100 protein family. Structurally, S100B contains two EF chiral calcium binding regions and auxiliary Zn2+ binding sites. By binding Zn2+to histidine residues in binding sites, the structure of S100B can be changed, and the distance between calcium binding sites can be shortened to play a role as a calcium sensor protein. S100B mainly acts as intracellular calcium receptor protein in organisms. Low concentration of S100B has neurotrophic effect. Glial cells can paracrine and autocrine S100B to promote nerve growth and repair. High concentration of S100B has neurotoxicity and i......2021-02-07

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is one of the enolases involved in glycolysis pathway, which exists in nerve tissue and neuroendocrine tissue. The activity of NSE is the highest in brain tissue, middle in peripheral nerve and neurosecretory tissue, and the lowest in non-nerve tissue, serum and spinal fluid. It has been found to have an excess of NSE expression in tumors associated with the origin of neuroendocrine tissue, particularly small cell lung cancer (SCLC), resulting in a significant increase in serum NSE. Serum NSE as a specific marker of neuroendocrine tumors, such as neuroblastoma, thyroid medullary carcinoma and small cell lung cancer (70% increase), can be used for differen......2021-02-07

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that usually exists as dimers in vivo. Mature monomeric BDNF is a 119 amino acid secretory protein with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 3.5 kD and an isoelectric point of 9.99. The secondary structure of mature monomeric BDNF consists of multiple β-sheets and coiled coils, and three disulfide bonds. BDNF is expressed in multiple tissues including central and peripheral nervous system, endocrine system, bone and cartilage tissue. Predominantly, BDNF is expressed in the central nervous system, with the highest level detected in the hippocampus and cortex. Interactions between BDNF and the Trk family receptors ......2021-02-04

Melatonin (melatonin, MT) is a heterocyclic oxime compound also known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytrptamine or pineal voxel. It is an amine hormone that is synthesized and stored in the pineal gland in the brain, and released when the pineal gland is stimulated by sympathetic nervous system. Secretion of melatonin occurs with a clear circadian rhythm - serum concentrations of melatonin are low during the day light hours, and increased to a peak during the dark. Interaction between melatonin and its receptors and binding sites in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis regulates the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin, luteinizing hormone and follicle estrogen. Studi......2021-02-04

Renalase is a newfound enzyme. It is a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent amine oxidase that is secreted from the kidney. The gene encoding human Renalase is located on chromosome 10, containing 9 exons. The Renalase protein has at least 4 subtypes, 2 of which (H-Renalase1 and H-Renalase2) have complete amine oxidase region, while the other 2 have incomplete amine oxidase region. Current studies showed that Renalase could metabolized the catecholamines in blood circulation system via some unknow mechanism, to regulate heart function and blood pressure, which is different from some other known FAD-dependent amine oxidases mechanism of action, such as monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A a......2021-02-03

Corticosterone is a 21-carbon steroid hormone of the corticosteroid type produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. As the most important glucocorticoid in mammals, it also has a direct impact on the elongation, differentiation and physiological functions of hippocampal neurons. Corticosterone affects neuronal function by interacting with two types of intracellular receptors, Glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), and membrane receptor-binding proteins that have not yet been fully elucidated. In the condition of stress and aging, the damage to hippocampal morphological and functional would be led by corticosterone rising in plasma, including atrophy of ......2021-02-03