title: Role of p53 in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  p53 plays an important role in many areas of cellular physiology and biology, ranging from cellular development and differentiation to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Many of its functions are attributed to its role in assuring proper cellular division. However, since the establishment of its role in cell cycle arrest, damage repair, and apoptosis (thus also establishing its importance in cancer development), numerous reports have demonstrated additional functions of p53 in various cells. In particular, p53 appears to have important functions as it relates to neurodegeneration and synaptic plasticity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this review, we will address p53 functions as it relates to various neurodegenerative diseases, mainly its implications in the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p53 plays a pivotal role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases through its interaction with cellular factors, viral factors, and/or small RNAs that have the ability to promote the development of these diseases. Hence, inhibition of p53 may present an ideal target to restore neuronal functions.
authors: Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors: J Robert
authors: JR
authors: Chang
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Ghafouri
authors: Ruma
authors: R
authors: Mukerjee
authors: Asen
authors: A
authors: Bagashev
authors: Tinatin
authors: T
authors: Chabrashvili
authors: Bassel E
authors: BE
authors: Sawaya
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53