Therapeutic Targeting Of DNA Repair Pathway Dysregulation In Aging, Cancer, And Neurodegeneration
Our bodies are constantly working to maintain the integrity of our genetic material, DNA, through a complex system called DNA repair. This system fixes damage that can occur from everyday cellular processes or environmental factors. However, when these DNA repair pathways don’t function correctly, it can have serious consequences for our health.
Recent research emphasizes that problems with DNA repair are a shared vulnerability across several major health challenges: aging, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. For instance, in aging, faulty DNA repair can lead to a buildup of cellular damage, contributing to the overall decline of tissues and organs. In cancer, tumor cells often hijack or alter DNA repair mechanisms to survive stressful conditions and become resistant to treatments. Conversely, in brain cells (neurons), which don’t divide, limited DNA repair capacity can make them vulnerable to damage, contributing to neurodegeneration.
The good news is that understanding these shared vulnerabilities opens doors for new treatments. Scientists are exploring ways to develop therapies that specifically target these dysfunctional repair pathways. This could involve restoring proper DNA repair in conditions like aging and neurodegeneration, or, in the case of cancer, exploiting the altered repair mechanisms of tumor cells to make them more susceptible to existing therapies. The key lies in identifying the specific “repair state” of cells in different conditions, allowing for more precise and effective interventions.
Source: link to paper