TY - JOUR AU - Poon, Vivian AU - Choi, Sojoong AU - Park, Mikyoung PY - 2013 M3 - Review TI - Growth factors in synaptic function JO - Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsyn.2013.00006 VL - 5 SN - 1663-3563 N2 - Synapses are increasingly recognized as key structures that malfunction in disorders like schizophrenia, mental retardation, and neurodegenerative diseases. The importance and complexity of the synapse has fuelled research into the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and plasticity. In this regard, neurotrophic factors such as netrin, Wnt, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and others have gained prominence for their ability to regulate synaptic function. Several of these factors were first implicated in neuroprotection, neuronal growth, and axon guidance. However, their roles in synaptic development and function have become increasingly clear, and the downstream signaling pathways employed by these factors have begun to be elucidated. In this review, we will address the role of these factors and their downstream effectors in synaptic function in vivo and in cultured neurons. ER -