Nucleic acid oxidation in Alzheimer disease

• Autor(a) principal: Moreira, Paula I.
• Data de Publicação: 2008
• Outros Autores: Nunomura, Akihiko, Nakamura, Masao, Takeda, Atsushi, Shenk, Justin C., Aliev, Gjumrakch, Smith, Mark A., Perry, George
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/4683; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.01.002
• topic: Alzheimer's disease; DNA oxidation; DNA repair; Oxidative stress; RNA damage; RNA repair; Free radicals

Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is intimately associated with Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. Nucleic acids (nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and RNA) are one of the several cellular macromolecules damaged by reactive oxygen species, particularly the hydroxyl radical. Because neurons are irreplaceable and survive as long as the organism does, they need elaborate defense mechanisms to ensure their longevity. In Alzheimer disease, however, an accumulation of nucleic acid oxidation is observed, indicating an increased level of oxidative stress and/or a decreased capacity to repair the nucleic acid damage. In this review, we present data supporting the notion that mitochondrial and metal abnormalities are key sources of oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease. Furthermore, we outline the mechanisms of nucleic acid oxidation and repair. Finally, evidence showing the occurrence of nucleic acid oxidation in Alzheimer disease will be discussed.