DNA repair deficiency and neurological disease

PJ McKinnon - Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2009 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2009nature.com
The ability to respond to genotoxic stress is a prerequisite for the successful development of
the nervous system. Mutations in various DNA repair factors can lead to human diseases
that are characterized by pronounced neuropathology. In many of these syndromes the
neurological component is among the most deleterious aspects of the disease. The nervous
system poses a particular challenge in terms of clinical intervention, as the neuropathology
associated with these diseases often arises during nervous system development and can be …
Abstract
The ability to respond to genotoxic stress is a prerequisite for the successful development of the nervous system. Mutations in various DNA repair factors can lead to human diseases that are characterized by pronounced neuropathology. In many of these syndromes the neurological component is among the most deleterious aspects of the disease. The nervous system poses a particular challenge in terms of clinical intervention, as the neuropathology associated with these diseases often arises during nervous system development and can be fully penetrant by childhood. Understanding how DNA repair deficiency affects the nervous system will provide a rational basis for therapies targeted at ameliorating the neurological problems in these syndromes.
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