CNTF

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) belongs to the IL-6 cytokine family. IL-6, IL-11 and CNTF are associated with cytokine trans signaling. CNTF shows a low affinity interaction with IL-6 receptor subunit alpha (IL-6Rα), leading to the formation and activation of the IL-6Rβ/gp130/LIFR signaling receptor complex[1]. CNTF is also an extracellular signaling protein in the neuroretinal and the interphotoreceptor matrix, which is associated with the membranes of the RPE, Muller and photoreceptor cells[2]. CNTF has neuroprotective effects on a variety of central and also peripheral nervous system neurons. Because it promotes differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells to oligodendrocytes under in vitro conditions and thus improves remyelination. Importantly, it also increases the survival of mature oligodendrocytes[3]. The similarity of human CNTF protein sequences to mice and rats was 81.82% and 84.0%, respectively.