Cited by 129DNA Repair MechanismsGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsAlzheimer's disease research and treatments

Mechanisms of DNA damage-mediated neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative disease

Open access
Welch, Gwyneth, Tsai, Li‐Huei·2022·The EMBO Reports

Abstract

Neurons are highly susceptible to DNA damage accumulation due to their large energy requirements, elevated transcriptional activity, and long lifespan. While newer research has shown that DNA breaks and mutations may facilitate neuron diversity during development and neuronal function throughout life, a wealth of evidence indicates deficient DNA damage repair underlies many neurological disorders, especially age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, efforts to clarify the molecular link between DNA damage and neurodegeneration have improved our understanding of how the genomic location of DNA damage and defunct repair proteins impact neuron health. Additionally, work establishing a role for senescence in the aging and diseased brain reveals DNA damage may play a central role in neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes evidence that DNA damage contributes mechanistically to neurodegeneration through two routes: the genomic location of lesions disrupting transcription of neuronal genes, and downstream lesion-detection signaling (DDR and cytosolic DNA sensing) driving apoptosis, senescence, and neuroinflammation. It argues that DNA repair syndromes serve as proxies for aging-related neurodegeneration and that senescence biology may link DNA damage to neuroinflammation.

Key findings

  • Neurons are uniquely vulnerable because they are post-mitotic (excluding error-free homologous recombination), long-lived, and transcriptionally/energetically demanding — consuming approximately 20% of the body's available oxygen, with ROS-mediated damage greatest in the nervous system.
  • DNA breaks have functional roles in neurons: activity-induced DSBs occur at immediate-early gene promoters (e.g., after bicuculline stimulation, fear learning, or novel environment exposure), but recurrence at these regulatory sequences makes them vulnerable to mutation and translocation; postmitotic neurons accumulate breaks in regulatory elements associated with neuronal function.
  • SSBR mutations manifest exclusively as neurodegenerative syndromes (AOA1/AOA4 from APTX/PNKP, SCAN1 from TDP1, AOA5 from XRCC1); mutant XRCC1 causes PARP1 hyperactivity, excessive poly(ADP-ribose), NAD+/ATP depletion, Parthanatos, and in mouse brain progressive cerebellar degeneration, ataxia, seizure-like activity, and dysregulated presynaptic calcium signaling.
  • DNA damage links to neuroinflammation via ATM–NF-κB signaling and cGAS-STING sensing of cytosolic self-DNA; removal of senescent cells mitigates NFT burden, amyloid burden, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline in mouse models of tauopathy, AD, PD, and normal aging.

Methods

  • Narrative review; no primary data collection or new experiments.
  • Synthesizes literature on DDR pathways (SSB/BER, NER, DSB/NHEJ, HR), DNA repair disorders, age-associated neurodegenerative disease, and senescence/neuroinflammation.
  • Discusses DNA lesion-mapping technologies (γH2AX ChIP-seq, END-seq, BLISS, SSiNGLe, LAM-HTGTS, SAR-seq, Click-Code-seq, Nick-seq, ATAC-seq) and their application to neurons.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: the mechanistic relationship between neuroinflammation and DNA damage "has yet to be fully realized"; the utility of newer break-mapping techniques (BLISS, SSiNGLe) in neurons has yet to be evaluated; it remains to be seen whether DNA damage itself is the main inducer of senescence in each brain cell type; the concept of senescent-like phenotypes in neurons is "particularly controversial" because senescence was initially defined in cycling cells; murine ATM knockout only mildly recapitulates AT ataxia and cerebellar atrophy, limiting mechanistic work.
  • Evident from the text: as a review, all conclusions rest on cited primary studies rather than new data; several key claims (e.g., neuronal cGAS-STING in HD/ALS, neuronal senescence) are described as hypotheses or early observations requiring further dissection.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.15252/embr.202154217

Cites

184 of 184 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 175 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Interpretationcitation

    Deficient DNA damage repair underlies many neurological disorders, especially age-associated neurodegenerative diseases.

    “a wealth of evidence indicates deficient DNA damage repair underlies many neurological disorders, especially age‐associated neurodegenerative diseases.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hoeijmakers, 2009 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Chow & Herrup, 2015 source

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  • Interpretationcitation

    DNA damage may play a central role in neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease.

    “work establishing a role for senescence in the aging and diseased brain reveals DNA damage may play a central role in neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bussian et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Musi et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Chow et al, 2019 source

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  • Premisecitation

    DNA damage and defective DDR push cellular fate toward apoptosis, senescence, or uncontrolled cell division.

    “These insults ultimately push cellular fate toward apoptosis, senescence, or uncontrolled cell division”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hoeijmakers, 2009 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Chow & Herrup, 2015 source

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  • Premisecitation

    The majority of genomic injuries ultimately manifest as single-strand breaks (SSBs).

    “the majority ultimately manifest in the form of single‐strand breaks (SSBs)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lindahl & Barnes, 2000 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Tubbs & Nussenzweig, 2017 source

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  • Premisecitation

    Reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack DNA to form oxidized bases and abasic sites.

    “reactive oxygen species (ROS), which attack DNA to form oxidized bases and abasic sites”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lindahl & Barnes, 2000 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Tubbs & Nussenzweig, 2017 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 9
  • May combine two claims. 36
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Neurons are highly susceptible to DNA damage accumulation due to their large energy requirements, elevated transcriptional activity, and long lifespan.

    “Neurons are highly susceptible to DNA damage accumulation due to their large energy requirements, elevated transcriptional activity, and long lifespan.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Neurons are post-mitotic and long-lived.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Apoptosis, senescence, and uncontrolled cell division are hallmarks of age-associated disease.

    “all of which are hallmarks of age‐associated disease”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hoeijmakers, 2009 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Chow & Herrup, 2015 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Just one DSB can induce cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis.

    “it is popularly cited that just one DSB can induce cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Huang et al, 1996 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Defective DDR pathways can result in toxic genomic rearrangements, transcriptional dysregulation, and the accumulation of unrepaired lesions.

    “Defective DDR pathways can result in toxic genomic rearrangements, transcriptional dysregulation, and the accumulation of unrepaired lesions”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hoeijmakers, 2009 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Chow & Herrup, 2015 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    SSBs may form DSBs through collision with the transcriptional machinery and replication forks, or through close proximity to another SSB.

    “SSBs may form DSBs through their collision with the transcriptional machinery and replication forks, or through their close proximity to another SSB.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cannan & Pederson, 2016 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    SSBs are more common than DSBs, but DSBs have higher potential for toxicity.

    “While SSBs are the more common form of DNA damage, double‐strand breaks (DSBs) have the higher potential for toxicity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    DSBs are directly generated by transcription, whereby TOP2 induces transient DSBs to relieve torsional stress and facilitate gene expression.

    “DSBs are also directly generated by transcription (Cannan & Pederson, 2016), whereby topoisomerase II (TOP2) induces transient DSBs to relieve torsional stress and facilitate gene expression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cannan & Pederson, 2016 source

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    Premisecitation

    DSBs play important roles in cell physiology, including T-cell receptor and antibody diversity, chromosomal recombination during meiosis, and immediate early gene expression in neurons.

    “DSBs are required for T‐cell receptor and antibody diversity, chromosomal recombination during meiosis, and in the case of neurons, assist in the expression of immediate early genes”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Suberbielle et al, 2013 source

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    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2015 source

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    • cites Alt & Schwer, 2018 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    PARP1 senses both SSBs and DSBs, rapidly generating PAR chains to recruit DNA repair proteins and relax chromatin at break sites.

    “PARP1 senses both SSBs and DSBs, rapidly generating poly(ADP‐ribose) (PAR) chain scaffolds (PARylation) on itself and other target proteins to recruit DNA repair proteins and relax chromatin at break sites.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    NHEJ operates in all phases of the cell cycle and is the only DSB repair pathway available to post-mitotic cells.

    “NHEJ operates in all phases of the cell cycle and thus is the only DSB repair pathway available to post‐mitotic cells.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Premisereasoning

    alt-NHEJ and SSA are inherently error-prone.

    “Both alt‐NHEJ and SSA are inherently error‐prone”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Phosphorylation of H2A.X (γH2AX) by ATM flanks DSB sites more than 500 kb upstream and downstream to form γH2AX foci.

    “phosphorylation of H2A.X (γH2AX) by ATM is a critical post‐translational modification, flanking DSB sites more than 500 kb upstream and downstream to form γH2AX foci”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Stimulating primary neurons with bicuculline or subjecting mice to fear learning results in the induction of DSBs at the promoters of immediate-early genes.

    “Stimulating primary neurons with bicuculline or subjecting mice to fear learning results in the induction of DSBs at the promoters of immediate‐early genes”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Madabhushi et al, 2015 source

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    • cites Stott et al, 2021 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    DNA damage in glia plays demonstrable roles in neurodegeneration.

    “DNA damage in glia plays demonstrable roles in neurodegeneration, as we will discuss later.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    PARP1 and ATM are two major sensors of SSBs and DSBs.

    “Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and Ataxia telangectasia mutated (ATM) are two major sensors of SSBs and DSBs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    HR is an error-free method of DSB repair by which resected DNA strands utilize their sister chromatid as a template.

    “HR is considered an error‐free method of DSB repair by which resected DNA strands utilize their sister chromatid as a template for DNA synthesis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    DSB hotspots reside in long genes that are important for neuronal function and are risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

    “DSB hotspots reside in long genes that are important for neuronal function and are risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Wei et al, 2016, 2018

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Wang et al, 2020 source

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    Premisecitation

    Somatic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) increase with age and are enriched in genes that regulate tau phosphorylation in hippocampal tissue from individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

    “a study performing whole exome sequencing of hippocampal tissue from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) revealed that somatic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) increase with age and are enriched in genes that regulate tau phosphorylation”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Park et al, 2019 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Compared to neurons, glial cells are replaceable, have lower energy requirements, and in some cases are able to re-enter the cell cycle, thus facilitating DNA repair.

    “compared to neurons, glial cells are replaceable, have lower energy requirements, and, in some cases, are able to re‐enter the cell cycle, thus facilitating DNA repair.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Glial cells are replaceable, have lower energy requirements, and can re-enter the cell cycle.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The consequence of neuronal features is elevated ROS byproducts, exclusion of error-free HR repair, age-associated decline in DNA repair enzyme efficiency, and an overall increased chance of somatic mutation.

    “The consequence of these features is elevated ROS byproducts, exclusion of error‐free HR repair, age‐associated decline in DNA repair enzyme efficiency, and an overall increased chance of somatic mutation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Erroneous DSB repair could lead to mutations that result in transcriptomic dysfunction, which could manifest at the cellular level as impaired synaptic signaling.

    “erroneous DSB repair could lead to mutations that result in transcriptomic dysfunction, which could further manifest at the cellular level as impaired synaptic signaling.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Single-cell whole genome sequencing has revealed that somatic SNVs located near neuronal genes increase with age in human neurons, presumably due to errors in BER, NER, and transcription-associated repair.

    “single‐cell whole genome sequencing has revealed that somatic SNVs located near neuronal genes increase with age in human neurons, presumably due to errors in BER, NER, and transcription‐associated repair (Fig 2) (Lodato et al, 2015, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lodato et al, 2015, 2018

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    AOA1 and AOA4 are caused by mutations in APTX and PNKP respectively.

    “Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia types 1 and 4 (AOA1, AOA4) are caused by mutations in DNA end‐processing enzymes Aprataxin (APTX) and Polynucleotide Kinase 3′‐Phosphatase (PNKP) respectively.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    SCAN1 is caused by defective TDP1 and is characterized by peripheral neuropathy.

    “SCAN1, caused by defective TDP1, is a similar neurodegenerative syndrome additionally characterized by peripheral neuropathy”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Takashima et al, 2002 source

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    • cites El‐Khamisy et al, 2005

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    Premisecitation

    8oxoG can repress gene transcription through multiple mechanisms, including blocking transcription factor binding, recruiting chromatin remodelers that methylate gene promoters, and erroneous BER that can result in single nucleotide variations.

    “8oxoG is capable of repressing gene transcription through many mechanisms, including blocking transcription factor binding (Ghosh & Mitchell, 1999; Moore et al, 2016), recruiting chromatin remodelers that result in the methylation of gene promoters(Wang et al, 2018b; Xia et al, 2017, 4), and erroneous repair through BER, which could result in single nucleotide variations (SNVs).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Ghosh & Mitchell, 1999 source

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    • cites Moore et al, 2016 source

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    • cites Wang et al, 2018b

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    Premisecitation

    Increased levels of both SSBs and DSBs are documented in AD, HD, PD, and ALS, and their accumulation correlates with important milestones in disease progression.

    “A plethora of studies document increased levels of both SSBs and DSBs in AD, HD, PD, and ALS (Mullaart et al, 1990; Adamec et al, 1999; McKinnon, 2013, 2017; Madabhushi et al, 2014; Alt & Schwer, 2018; Shanbhag et al, 2019; Thadathil et al, 2021), and their accumulation seem to correlate with important milestones in disease progression.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Mullaart et al, 1990 source

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    • cites Adamec et al, 1999 source

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    • cites McKinnon, 2013 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Increased ROS and DSBs are documented in neurons derived from sporadic AD patient fibroblasts, indicating that age-dependent features of genomic instability are recapitulated in human in vitro models of disease.

    “More recently, increased ROS and DSBs have also been documented in neurons derived directly from sporadic AD patient fibroblasts, indicating that age‐dependent features of genomic instability are recapitulated in human in vitro models of disease (Mertens et al, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mertens et al, 2021 source

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    Premisecitation

    DNA damage is a potent activator of inflammatory signaling and senescence.

    “DNA damage is a potent activator of inflammatory signaling and senescence (Coppé et al, 2008; Rodier et al, 2009; Brzostek‐Racine et al, 2011; Härtlova et al, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Coppé et al, 2008 source

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    • cites Rodier et al, 2009 source

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    • cites Brzostek‐Racine et al, 2011

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    Premisecitation

    Senescent-like brain cells are identified in murine models of AD and tauopathy, and their removal via senolytic drugs mitigates pathology and improves cognition.

    “More recently, researchers have identified senescent‐like brain cells in murine models of AD and tauopathy, and their removal via senolytic drugs seems to mitigate pathology and improve cognition (Bussian et al, 2018; Musi et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2019; Ogrodnik et al, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bussian et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Musi et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Zhang et al, 2019 source

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    Premisecitation

    α-synuclein binds double-strand DNA and facilitates NHEJ in homeostasis.

    “Finally, α‐synuclein, whose cytoplasmic aggregation is a hallmark of PD, is able to bind double‐strand DNA and facilitate NHEJ in homeostasis (Schaser et al, 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Schaser et al, 2019 source

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    Premisecitation

    Huntington protein may play a role in DNA damage detection, potentially serving as a scaffold for ATM at sites of oxidized DNA and for ATXN3 and PNKP at sites of transcription-coupled DNA break repair.

    “The Huntington protein may also play a role in DNA damage detection, potentially serving as a scaffold for ATM at sites of oxidized DNA (Maiuri et al, 2017), and ATXN3 and PNKP at sites of transcription‐coupled DNA break repair (Gao et al, 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Maiuri et al, 2017

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    • cites Gao et al, 2019

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The mechanistic link between DNA damage and senescence has already been defined in detail.

    “Importantly, while not well‐studied in the context of the degenerating brain, the mechanistic link between DNA damage and senescence has already been defined in great detail (d’Adda di Fagagna, 2008; Miyamoto, 2011; Li & Chen, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites d’Adda di Fagagna, 2008 source

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    • cites Miyamoto, 2011 source

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    • cites Li & Chen, 2018 source

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    Premisecitation

    DNA damage can evoke type-I interferon signaling in AT cells due to accumulation of cytosolic DNA fragments, suggesting that activation of inflammatory signaling via DNA damage can occur independent of the DSB DDR.

    “Interestingly, a subsequent study revealed that DNA damage can also evoke type‐I interferon signaling in AT cells due to the accumulation of cytosolic DNA fragments, suggesting activation of inflammatory signaling via DNA damage can occur independent of the DSB DDR (Härtlova et al, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Härtlova et al, 2015 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    DNA damage has direct molecular links to senescence-associated inflammatory signaling, both through DDR pathway activation and the mis-localization of DNA itself.

    “Therefore, DNA damage has direct molecular links to senescence‐associated inflammatory signaling, both through DDR pathway activation and the mis‐localization of DNA itself (Fig 3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Different phenotypes of DNA damage response deficits are mediated by different pathways, which may have preferential function in different cell types.

    “This indicates that different phenotypes of DNA damage response deficits are mediated by different pathways, which may have preferential function in different cell types.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    TLR9 binds double-stranded DNA in endosomes, recruits MYD88 to activate NFkB, and stimulates expression of inflammatory cytokines.

    “This includes TLR9 (Toll‐like receptor 9), which binds to double‐stranded DNA engulfed in endosomes, particularly bacterial DNA or mtDNA. This recruits adaptor protein MYD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response 88) to activate NFκB and stimulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Miller et al, 2021 source

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    Premisecitation

    Removal of senescent cells in the brain mitigates NFT burden, amyloid burden, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline in mouse models of tauopathy, AD, PD, and normal aging.

    “It has since been shown that removal of senescent cells in the brain mitigates neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden, amyloid burden, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline in mouse models of tauopathy (Bussian et al, 2018; Musi et al, 2018), AD (Zhang et al, 2019), PD (Chinta et al, 2018), and normal aging (Ogrodnik et al, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bussian et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Musi et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Zhang et al, 2019 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Microglia, astrocytes, and neurons display senescent-like phenotypes in Tau P301S mice and have been proposed as drivers of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

    “For example both microglia (Bussian et al, 2018), astrocytes (Bussian et al, 2018), and neurons (Musi et al, 2018) have been found to display senescent‐like phenotypes in Tau P301S mice, and have been proposed as drivers of cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Bussian et al, 2018 source

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    • cites Musi et al, 2018 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Senescent-like phenotypes are identified in oligodendrocyte precursor cells in APP/PS1 mice, and their removal mitigates amyloid load and cognitive decline.

    “Senescent‐like phenotypes have also been identified in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in APP/PS1 mice, and their removal has been shown to mitigate amyloid load and cognitive decline (Zhang et al, 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Zhang et al, 2019 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In AGS, DDR-mediated activation of p53, not cGAS-STING, causes neuron cell death, although increased micronuclei and R-loops are observed in astrocytes.

    “However, recent work investigating the cause of AGS neurotoxicity revealed that it is the DDR‐mediated activation of p53, not CGAS‐STING, that causes neuron cell death, although increased micronuclei and R‐loops were observed in astrocytes (Aditi et al, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Aditi et al, 2021

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    DNA damage is a well-established source of inflammatory signaling.

    “Importantly, as DNA damage is a well‐established source of inflammatory signaling, this uncovers a previously unstudied aspect of neuronal response to DNA damage.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Neuronal cGAS-STING is activated in models of HD and ALS, suggesting that toxic protein aggregates may stimulate DNA release to initiate NFκB activation in neurons.

    “Notably, neuronal cGAS‐STING has been shown to be activated in models of HD and ALS, suggesting that toxic protein aggregates may stimulate DNA release (mitochondrial or genomic) to initiate NFκB activation in neurons (Sharma et al, 2020; Yu et al, 2020).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Sharma et al, 2020 source

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    • cites Yu et al, 2020

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The detection of viral nucleic acids utilizes the same cGAS-STING pathway as detection of self-DNA in senescent cells, suggesting that the mechanism of innate immune signaling in DSB-bearing neurons may be significant.

    “The detection of viral nucleic acids utilizes the same cGAS‐STING pathway as that described for detection of self‐DNA within the cytosol of senescent cells, suggesting that the mechanism of innate immune signaling in DSB‐bearing neurons may be of some significance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
43 of 43
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Neurons are post-mitotic and long-lived.

    “Post‐mitotic neurons are the basic cellular unit of the nervous system.”
    “neurons perform transcriptionally and energetically demanding cellular functions and are post‐mitotic and long‐lived.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Glial cells are replaceable, have lower energy requirements, and can re-enter the cell cycle.

    “compared to neurons, glial cells are replaceable, have lower energy requirements, and, in some cases, are able to re‐enter the cell cycle, thus facilitating DNA repair.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Most mutations are likely neutral.

    “While most mutations are likely to be neutral”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    HD toxicity is derived from the CAG trinucleotide expansion of the Huntingtin gene.

    “Aberrant DNA repair may also directly mediate the severity of neurodegenerative disorders like HD, whose toxicity is derived from the CAG trinucleotide expansion of the Huntingtin gene.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Age-dependent CAG expansion occurs in the brains of individuals with HD, gradually increasing the toxicity of the Huntington protein in the striatum.

    “Specifically, age‐dependent CAG expansion occurs in the brains of individuals with HD, gradually increasing the toxicity of the Huntington protein in the striatum.”
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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Lai J, Kim J, Jeffries AM, Tolles A, Chittenden TW, Buckley PG, Yu TW, Lodato MA, Lee EA (2021) Single‐nucleus transcriptomic analyses reveal microglial activation underlying cerebellar degeneration in Ataxia Telangiectasia. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.09.459619 [PREPRINT] · DOI

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Authors
Welch, G., & Tsai, L.
Affiliations
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Tsai, Li‐Huei
Venue
The EMBO Reports
Published
2022-05-02
Volume
23
Issue
6
Pages
e54217-e54217
ISSN
  • 1469-221X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-3178
OpenAlex
W4225288591
Cited by
129
References
183
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 4
FWCI
2.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • EMBO Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Keywords
DNA damage, neurotoxicity, neurodegenerative diseases, DNA repair, DNA strand breaks, DNA mutations, neuronal aging, cellular senescence, neuroinflammation, age-related neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Aging, DNA Damage, DNA Repair, Humans, Neurons, Neurodegenerative Diseases

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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