Nvolved in energy and mitochondrial alterations, signal transduction, antioxidant defense, and chaperone proteins, as shown in Table 2.Antioxidant defenseInterestingly, MnSOD was significantly increased in mitochondria isolated from the brain of p53(2/2) mice compared to WT. This data was already shown in our prior study [20] and are consistent with the notion that MnSOD is transcriptionally repressed by p53 [34,35] with consequent propagation of oxidative stress, since MnSOD provides critical antioxidant defense. Because the apoptotic programs require oxidative stress for their execution, an GHRH (1-29) web overexpression of MnSOD was shown to increase resistance to p53-dependent apoptosis [17,34]. Drane et al. [34], and St. Clair and colleagues [18], further demonstrated that MnSOD has a mutual activity on p53 reducing its expression, and even negatively modulating its apoptotic function. Several studies indicate that overexpression of MnSOD protects neurons from oxidative damage thus exerting a defensive role during AD development [36]. St. Clair and co-workers [36], using APP-PS-1 neurons as a model of AD, found a reduction of MnSOD expression during neuronal maturation with high levels of oxidative stress. These researchers also indicated p53 as a possible factor for the suppression of MnSOD [36]. Therefore, an overexpression of MnSOD through the inhibition of p53 could be helpful to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative processes such as AD. Thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, also called peroxiredoxin 3, is an antioxidant protein localized mainly in the matrix of mitochondria, and it regulates physiological levels of H2O2 [37]. The peroxiredoxin system requires a family of proteins called sestrins for its regeneration [38], and sestrin expression is regulated by p53 [39,40]. Previous studies showed that p53 upregulates the expression of sestrins, including peroxiredoxin [14]. In contrast, in our study, we found an increase of Prdx3 levels in the mitochondrial of p53(2/2) mice, and a plausible explanation of this result could be, as proposed in our previous work [20], that the lack of p53 could disturb cellular homeostasis causing the activation of protective pathways by cells to combat cellular damage. Since H2O2 plays a central role in induction of apoptosis [41], the reduction of mitochondrial levels of H2O2by overexpression of Prdx3 seems to be antiapoptotic [42], and therefore beneficial for preserving cell survival. In addition Prdx3 was previously found down-regulated in AD brain [43].DiscussionSeveral studies have described p53, an important tumor suppressor protein, as the guardian of the genome [1,2] for its critical role in regulating the transcription of numerous genes responsible for cells cycle arrest, senescence, or apoptosis in response to various stress signals [4]. Therefore, p53 is crucial in maintaining genetic stability [1]. What determines cell fate is unclear but different factors including the cell type, the particular insult, and the severity of damage are involved in this decision [24]. Undoubtedly p53 promotes longevity by decreasing the risk of AZ-876 cancer through activation of apoptosis or cellular senescence, but several reports suggest that an increase of its activity may have detrimental effects leading to selected aspects of the aging phenotype [7,25] and neurodegenerative disease. Thus, there is a 23115181 balance between cell death and survival that under normal conditions optimizes tumor suppression with.Nvolved in energy and mitochondrial alterations, signal transduction, antioxidant defense, and chaperone proteins, as shown in Table 2.Antioxidant defenseInterestingly, MnSOD was significantly increased in mitochondria isolated from the brain of p53(2/2) mice compared to WT. This data was already shown in our prior study [20] and are consistent with the notion that MnSOD is transcriptionally repressed by p53 [34,35] with consequent propagation of oxidative stress, since MnSOD provides critical antioxidant defense. Because the apoptotic programs require oxidative stress for their execution, an overexpression of MnSOD was shown to increase resistance to p53-dependent apoptosis [17,34]. Drane et al. [34], and St. Clair and colleagues [18], further demonstrated that MnSOD has a mutual activity on p53 reducing its expression, and even negatively modulating its apoptotic function. Several studies indicate that overexpression of MnSOD protects neurons from oxidative damage thus exerting a defensive role during AD development [36]. St. Clair and co-workers [36], using APP-PS-1 neurons as a model of AD, found a reduction of MnSOD expression during neuronal maturation with high levels of oxidative stress. These researchers also indicated p53 as a possible factor for the suppression of MnSOD [36]. Therefore, an overexpression of MnSOD through the inhibition of p53 could be helpful to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative processes such as AD. Thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, also called peroxiredoxin 3, is an antioxidant protein localized mainly in the matrix of mitochondria, and it regulates physiological levels of H2O2 [37]. The peroxiredoxin system requires a family of proteins called sestrins for its regeneration [38], and sestrin expression is regulated by p53 [39,40]. Previous studies showed that p53 upregulates the expression of sestrins, including peroxiredoxin [14]. In contrast, in our study, we found an increase of Prdx3 levels in the mitochondrial of p53(2/2) mice, and a plausible explanation of this result could be, as proposed in our previous work [20], that the lack of p53 could disturb cellular homeostasis causing the activation of protective pathways by cells to combat cellular damage. Since H2O2 plays a central role in induction of apoptosis [41], the reduction of mitochondrial levels of H2O2by overexpression of Prdx3 seems to be antiapoptotic [42], and therefore beneficial for preserving cell survival. In addition Prdx3 was previously found down-regulated in AD brain [43].DiscussionSeveral studies have described p53, an important tumor suppressor protein, as the guardian of the genome [1,2] for its critical role in regulating the transcription of numerous genes responsible for cells cycle arrest, senescence, or apoptosis in response to various stress signals [4]. Therefore, p53 is crucial in maintaining genetic stability [1]. What determines cell fate is unclear but different factors including the cell type, the particular insult, and the severity of damage are involved in this decision [24]. Undoubtedly p53 promotes longevity by decreasing the risk of cancer through activation of apoptosis or cellular senescence, but several reports suggest that an increase of its activity may have detrimental effects leading to selected aspects of the aging phenotype [7,25] and neurodegenerative disease. Thus, there is a 23115181 balance between cell death and survival that under normal conditions optimizes tumor suppression with.