The neuro-glial-vascular interrelations in genomic instability symptoms

A hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases is impairment of certain aspects of “brain functionality”, which is defined as the total input and output of the brain's neural circuits and networks. A given neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by affected network organization and topology, cell numbers, cellular functionality, and the interactions between neural circuits. Neuroscientists generally view neurodegenerative disorders as diseases of neuronal cells; however, recent advances suggest a role for glial cells and an impaired vascular system in the etiology of certain neurodegenerative diseases. It is now clear that brain pathology is, to a very great extent, pathology of neurons, glia and the vascular system as these determine the degree of neuronal death as well as the outcome and scale of the neurological deficit. This review article is focused on the intricate interrelations among neurons, glia, the vascular system, neuronal cells, and the DNA damage response. Here I describe various aspects of neural and glial cell fate and the vascular system in genomic instability disorders including ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) and Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

► Malfunctioning DNA damage response plays a vital role in the etiology of brain diseases.
► Chromosomal instability syndrome: Ataxia-telangiectasia and Neijmegen breakage syndrome.
► The glio-doctrine: the role of glial cells in brain diseases.
► The role of malfunctioning vasculature in brain diseases.
► Neural network analysis as a tool to study brain diseases.