p53-dependent cell death signaling in neurons.
The p53 tumor suppressor gene is a sequence-specific transcription factor that activates the expression of genes engaged in promoting growth arrest or cell death in response to multiple forms of cellular stress. p53 expression is elevated in damaged neurons in acute models of injury such as ischemia and epilepsy and in brain tissue samples derived from animal models and patients with chronic neurodegenerative diseases. p53 deficiency or p53 inhibition protects neurons from a wide variety of acute toxic insults. Signal transduction pathways associated with p53-induced neuronal cell death are being characterized, suggesting that intervention may prove effective in maintaining neuronal viability and restoring function following neural injury and disease.
Morrison
Richard S
RS
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195-6470, USA. yael@u.washington.edu
Kinoshita
Yoshito
Y
Johnson
Mark D
MD
Guo
Weiqun
W
Garden
Gwenn A
GA
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53