| Studies have shown that t-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), a free radical generating toxin, induces significant cell death in human cortical neurons (HCN2 cells). Also, it was observed that the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor nicotinamide protects HCN2 cells by preventing up regulation of the pro-apoptotic proteins p53 and p21/WAF-1 that is induced by t-BuOOH. Therefore the identification of the genes involved was important for understanding the mechanisms behind free radical induced neuronal injury and for the neuroprotection provided by nicotinamide. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
