A persistent dogma in neuroscience supported the idea that terminally differentiated neurons permanently withdraw from the cell cycle. However, since the late 1990s, several studies have shown that cell cycle proteins are expressed in post-mitotic neurons under physiological conditions, indicating that the cell cycle machinery is not restricted to proliferating cells. Moreover, many studies have highlighted a clear link between cell cycle-related proteins and neurological disorders, particularly relating to apoptosis-induced neuronal death. Indeed, cell cycle-related proteins can be upregulated or overactivated in post-mitotic neurons in case of acute or degenerative central nervous system disease. Given the considerable lack of effective treatments for age-related neurological disorders, new therapeutic approaches targeting the cell cycle machinery might thus be considered. This review aims at summarizing current knowledge about the role of the cell cycle machinery in post-mitotic neurons in healthy and pathological conditions.

神经科学中的一种持续的教条支持这样的观点，即终末分化的神经元永久退出细胞周期。但是，自1990年代后期以来，一些研究表明，细胞周期蛋白在生理条件下在有丝分裂后的神经元中表达，这表明细胞周期机制并不局限于增殖细胞。而且，许多研究强调了细胞周期相关蛋白与神经系统疾病之间的明确联系，特别是与细胞凋亡诱导的神经元死亡有关。确实，在急性或变性中枢神经系统疾病的情况下，有丝分裂后神经元中与细胞周期相关的蛋白可能会上调或过度活化。鉴于严重缺乏与年龄相关的神经系统疾病的有效治疗，因此可以考虑针对细胞周期机制的新治疗方法。这篇综述旨在概述有关健康和病理状况下有丝分裂后神经元中细胞周期机制的作用的当前知识。