Are oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction the key players in the neurodegenerative diseases?

Abstract

Oxidative stress has long been linked to neuronal cell death that is associated with certain neurodegenerative conditions. Whether it is a primary cause or merely a downstream consequence of the neurodegenerative and aging process is still an open question. Mitochondria are deeply involved in the production of reactive oxygen species through the electron carriers of the respiratory chain and their role in neurodegenerative diseases is discussed here. Moreover, the input of new technological approaches in the study of oxidative stress response or in the evidence of an oxidative stress component in neurodegeneration is reviewed in this paper.

Keywords::

• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• proteomics
• miRNA
• epigenetics

Notice of Correction

The version of this article published online ahead of print on 14 August 2012 contained errors in figure 2. These errors have been corrected for this version.