脑红蛋白(neuroglobin,NGB)是一种六配位血红素单体球蛋白,被发现在机体的神经系统以及其他器官与组织中均会有不同程度的表达。在体外培养的神经细胞中以及实验动物的神经系统内,脑红蛋白的升高可以减少神经元受到的损伤。研究表明,脑红蛋白是一种内源性神经保护分子,脑红蛋白的超表达在清除活性氧物质、减轻一氧化氮引起的损伤、减少神经退行性疾病的发病、创伤性脑损伤的保护等中的作用更为显著。然而,其神经保护作用的机制尚不完全明确。本文对脑红蛋白的结构、分布、神经保护作用以及可能的机制做一简单介绍。
Neuroglobin is a hexacoordinate heme monomer globulin, which is mainly expressed in the nervous system,and it can be expressed in other organs and tissues. In cultured neurons and in vivo, the over-expression of neuroglobin can decrease the neural injury. In addition, previous studies have also showed that neuroglobin can serve as an endogenous neuroprotective molecule. Over-expression of neuroglobin in scavenging reactive oxygen species, reducing the damage caused by nitric oxide,reducing the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, and the protection of traumatic brain injury are more prominent. However,the mechanism of its neuroprotective effect is not fully understood. In this article, the structure, distribution and neuroprotective functions of the neuroglobin are briefly introduced.