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ABSTRACT
Neurons in the adult central nervous system (CNS) are subjected to high levels of oxidative damage that is usually promptly repaired. Transcribed genomic regions are repaired with priority over untranscribed regions. The prioritization of DNA repair in neurons results in modification of the input into the assessment of genomic integrity in order to delay or avoid damage-related apoptosis unless the damage interferes directly with the functioning of the neuron. CNS neurons may be replaced, albeit rarely. Over-stimulation of adult neural progenitor niche caused by accelerated neuronal loss may result in its premature depletion. The combination of the two pathologic mechanisms (increased rates of neuronal death and depletion of the progenitor niche) may eventually result in irreversible loss of specific cell populations in the CNS and/or generalized neuronal loss. Here we propose that the risk of developing sporadic late-onset neurodegenerative disease (LONDD) may be modulated by the individual capacity for detection and repair of DNA damage and the genetic propensity to repair moderate-degree damage or to assess it as irreparable and route the cell towards apoptosis. Thus, subtly deficient DNA damage repair coupled with a tendency to repair the damage rather than kill the damaged cell may be associated with increased risk of cancer, whereas deficient DNA repair coupled with a propensity to destroy damaged cells may increase the risk of LONDD. Extensive studies of individual repair capacity may be needed to test this hypothesis and, potentially, use the results in the assessment of the risk of common late-onset disease.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.