Nervous System Aging, Degeneration, and the p53 Family.

Over the past decade, evidence has emerged implicating the p53 family members p73 and p63 in two functions that likely play key roles in maintaining long-term nervous system integrity. First, p73, acting as a truncated, dominant-inhibitory ∆Np73 isoform, promotes neuronal survival and maintains neuronal longevity in the face of normal ongoing ˵wear and tear″ and following injuries or insults. Second, p63 promotes the survival of neural precursors, thereby regulating the establishment and, potentially, maintenance of adult neural stem cell (NSC) pools. On the basis of these findings, we propose that p73 and p63 act to maintain neurons and NSC pools over an animal΄s life span and, in so doing, prevent premature nervous system aging and neurodegeneration. Here, we will review the data supporting the idea that p73 and p63 perform these longevity functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]