Oxidative Damage to RNA in Neurodegenerative Diseases

[摘要] Since 1999, oxidative damage to RNA molecules has been describedin several neurological diseases including Alzheimer'sdisease, Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome, dementiawith Lewy bodies, prion disease, subacute sclerosingpanencephalitis, and xeroderma pigmentosum. An early involvementof RNA oxidation of vulnerable neuronal population in theneurodegenerative diseases has been demonstrated, which isstrongly supported by a recent observation of increased RNAoxidation in brains of subjects with mild cognitive impairment.Until recently, little is known about consequences and cellularhandling of the RNA damage. However, increasing body of evidencesuggests detrimental effects of the RNA damage in proteinsynthesis and the existence of several coping mechanisms includingdirect repair and avoiding the incorporation of the damagedribonucleotides into translational machinery. Furtherinvestigations toward understanding of the consequences andcellular handling mechanisms of the oxidative RNA damage mayprovide significant insights into the pathogenesis and therapeuticstrategies of the neurodegenerative diseases.

[学科分类] 基础医学