Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: New insights into underlying molecular mechanisms and opportunities for therapeutic intervention

Mauro Cozzolino, Maria Grazia Pesaresi, Valeria Gerbino, Julian Grosskreutz, Maria Teresa Carrì*

*Corresponding author for this work
51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a renewed interest in the pathogenic mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a late-onset progressive degeneration of motor neurons. The discovery of new genes associated with the familial form of the disease, along with a deeper insight into pathways already described for this disease, has led scientists to reconsider previous postulates. While protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, defective axonal transport, and excitotoxicity have not been dismissed, they need to be re-examined as contributors to the onset or progression of ALS in the light of the current knowledge that the mutations of proteins involved in RNA processing, apparently unrelated to the previous old partners, are causative of the same phenotype. Thus, newly envisaged models and tools may offer unforeseen clues on the etiology of this disease and hopefully provide the key to treatment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAntioxidants and Redox Signaling
Volume17
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1277-1330
Number of pages54
ISSN1523-0864
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.11.2012
Externally publishedYes

Research Areas and Centers

  • Centers: Center for Neuromuscular Diseases

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