The Pathway Ontology (PW), is currently being developed at the Rat Genome Database. For more information about this vocabulary, please see Petri et al. The rat genome database pathway portal. Database (Oxford). 2011 Apr 8;2011:bar010. Print 2011 or contact us (http://rgd.mcw.edu/contact/index.shtml).
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway plays important roles in the growth, differentiation and survival of neurons, particularly the striatal neurons. BDNF signals via the tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (TrkB) to activate PKC, PI3K-AKT and MAPK/ERK intracellular pathways. Impaired BDNF signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of conditions such as Huntington Disease (HD) and psychiatric disorders. Upregulation, on the other hand, is associated with several malignancies.