The p53 Family in Brain Disease

Significance: The p53 family of transcription factors, including p53, p63, and p73, plays key roles in both biological and pathological processes, including cancer and neural development.Recent Advances: In recent years, a growing body of evidence has indicated that the entire p53 family is involved in the regulation of the central nervous system (CNS) functions as well as in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders. Mechanistically, the p53 proteins control neuronal cell fate, terminal differentiation, and survival, via a complex interplay among the family members.Critical Issues: In this article, we discuss the involvement of the p53 family in neurobiology and in pathological conditions affecting the CNS, including neuroinflammation.Future Directions: Understanding the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the function of the p53 family could improve our general knowledge of the pathogenesis of brain disorders and potentially pave the road for new therapeutic intervention.