The nerve growth factor (NGF) is a signaling protein, discovered by Rita Levi-Montalcini in the early 1950's for its effect on growth and differentiation of specific populations of neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Originally identified as neurite outgrowth-stimulating factor, later studies revealed that the purified molecule has a number of target cells in the central nervous system and on nonneuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies showed the potential therapeutic properties of NGF in neuropathies of the central and peripheral nervous system and diseases of the eye and skin. Here I briefly describe the discovery of NGF, the early studies of Rita LeviMontalcini, a pioneer in modern neuroscience, and my scientific and human experience working in her laboratory for over 40 years.

中文翻译：

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Rita Levi-Montalcini以及第一个神经细胞生长因子NGF的发现。

神经生长因子（NGF）是一种信号蛋白，由Rita Levi-Montalcini在1950年代初发现，它对周围神经系统特定神经元群体的生长和分化具有影响。最初被鉴定为神经突增生因子，后来的研究表明，纯化的分子在中枢神经系统和非神经元细胞中具有许多靶细胞。此外，最近的研究表明，NGF在中枢神经系统和周围神经系统的神经病以及眼和皮肤疾病中具有潜在的治疗作用。在这里，我简要介绍NGF的发现，现代神经科学的先驱Rita LeviMontalcini的早期研究，以及我在其实验室工作40多年的科学和人类经验。