Description
Acts as a neurotrophic factor in postnatal mature neurons, enhancing neuronal survival (PubMed: 15605373, PubMed: 31536960). Promotes cell proliferation and neurogenesis in undifferentiated neural pro-genitor cells at the embryonic stage and inhibits differentiation of astrocytes (PubMed: 16547973). Its neurotrophic activity is exerted via MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK3/ERK1 and AKT1/AKT pathways (PubMed: 15605373, PubMed: 16547973). Neurotrophic activity is enhanced by binding to heme (PubMed: 18056703). Acts also as an anorexigenic neurotrophic factor that contributes to energy balance (PubMed: 23576617)