Cell cycle deregulation in neurodegenerative diseases.

: Cell cycle is critical for a wide range of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in dividing cells. Neurons are postmitotic cells which have withdrawn from the cell division cycle. Recent data show us that inappropriate activation of cell cycle regulators including cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and endogenous cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) may take part in the aetiology of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms for cell cycle reentry in neurodegenerative disease remain unclear.: Electronic databases such as Pubmed, Science Direct, Directory of Open Access Journals, PLOS were searched for relevant articles.: The present work reviews basic aspects of cell cycle mechanism, as well as the evidence showing the expression of cell cycle proteins in neurodegenerative disease. We provide a brief summary of these findings and hope to highlight the interaction between the cell cycle reentry and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, we outline the possible signaling pathways. However more understanding of the mechanism of cell cycle is of great importance. Because these represents an alternative target for therapeutic interventions, leading to novel treatments of neurodegenerative diseases.