title: Targeting New Candidate Genes by Small Molecules Approaching Neurodegenerative Diseases.
abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are among the most feared of the disorders that afflict humankind for the lack of specific diagnostic tests and effective treatments. Understanding the molecular, cellular, biochemical changes of NDs may hold therapeutic promise against debilitating central nerve system (CNS) disorders. In the present review, we summarized the clinical presentations and biology backgrounds of NDs, including Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and explored the role of molecular mechanisms, including dys-regulation of epigenetic control mechanisms, Ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated protein kinase (ATM), and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of NDs. Targeting these mechanisms may hold therapeutic promise against these devastating diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tung's Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 435, Taiwan. fanhuengchuen@yahoo.com.tw.|Department of Nursing, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 356, Taiwan. fanhuengchuen@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Hueng-Chuen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tung's Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 435, Taiwan. chi-cs@hotmail.com.|Department of Nursing, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 356, Taiwan. chi-cs@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ching-Shiang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tung's Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Wuchi, Taichung 435, Taiwan. pedcsn@yahoo.com.tw.|Department of Nursing, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli 356, Taiwan. pedcsn@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Shin-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan. leehf@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan. Fernand.tsai@msa.hinet.net.|Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan. Fernand.tsai@msa.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Jeng-Dau
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Immunology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. shinnzong@yahoo.com.tw.|Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan. shinnzong@yahoo.com.tw.|Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin 651, Taiwan. shinnzong@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Shinn-Zong
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan. duke_harn@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Horng-Jyh
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease (AD); Ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated protein kinase (ATM); Huntington’s disease (HD); Parkinson’s disease (PD); epigenetics; neurodegenerative diseases (NDs); neuroinflammation