p75NTR processing and signaling: Functional role

Abstract

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was the first neurotrophin receptor to be identified and, more than two decades after, significant advances have been made in understanding its biological actions. p75NTR belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRS) and is particularly important during developmental neural cell death and under injury conditions in the adulthood. However, recent studies shed new light into the functions of p75NTR in the nervous system. P75NTR either acting autonomously or as part of a complex with other co-receptors regulates neuronal survival and differentiation, cell cycle and proliferation, axonal outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we will review the main findings of the last two decades as well as new findings that reveal additional and unexpected roles for p75NTR.