Table 1.
Key data from the various studies exploring the role of NGF in IBS pathophysiology
| Reference | Country | Study type | Employed techniques | Key findings |
| Willot et al., 2012 | Canada | Human | Immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) | Rectal mucosal NGF content was higher in IBS-D children than in control and correlated with mast cell (MC) number |
| Dothel et al., 2015 | Italy | Human | Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, primary cell culture, qRT-PCR | Higher nerve fiber density, neuronal sprouting, and mucosal NGF and TrkA levels in IBS patients; NGF antibodies inhibited the neurotrophic effect of mucosal supernatants from IBS patients |
| Barreau et al., 2004 | France | Animal | Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, gut permeability (GP) by 51Cr-EDTA | Maternal deprivation (MD) increased visceral sensitivity, GP, and colonic NGF expression in rats; NGF antibodies abolished these effects |
| van den Wijngaard, 2009 | The Netherlands | Animal | Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, Western blotting | Acute stress induced colonic hypersensitivity and elevated colonic MC numbers in adult MD rats; MC stabilizer, NGF antibodies, or TRPV1 antagonist prevented the hypersensitivity |
| Yu et al., 2008 | China | Animal | Intraperitoneal NGF injection | NGF enhanced water avoidance (WA)-induced visceral hypersensitivity |
| Delafoy et al., 2003 | France | Animal | Intraperitoneal NGF injection | Both NGF and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colonic hypersensitivity via capsaicin-sensitive afferent fibers; NGF antibodies could reverse the effects of NGF and TNBS |
| Delafoy et al., 2006 | France | Animal | Drug intervention, colonic sensitivity assessment via barostat | Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist alleviated TNBS or NGF-induced colonic hypersensitivity; NGF antibodies failed to reverse CGRP-induced hypersensitivity |
| Barreau et al., 2007 | France | Animal | Drug intervention, GP by 51Cr-EDTA, immunohistochemistry, ELISA | MD rats showed increased GP and colonic NGF content; CRF acts on mast cells to stimulate NGF release and participates in the elevated GP observed in MD adult rats |
| Barreau et al., 2008 | France | Animal | Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, drug intervention | MD induced increased nerve fiber density and synaptogenesis, as well as mast cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy; NGF antibodies prevented these effects |