Apoptosis Review Articles
Apoptosis is a morphologically and biochemically distinct form of programmed cell death that plays an essential role during embryologic development, after birth, and during adulthood. However, deregulation of
apoptosis is involved in the
pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Since the late 1990s, the core components of the mammalian apoptotic machinery have been identified, and much
information on how this complex machinery is regulated has been gathered. Current work is focused on completely unraveling the mechanisms regulating this process and using our knowledge in the development of therapies for a variety of human diseases.Apoptosis occurs normally during development and
aging and as a homeostatic mechanism to maintain cell populations in tissues.
Apoptosis also occurs as a defense mechanism such as in immune reactions or when
cells are damaged by disease or noxious agents (Norbury and Hickson, 2001). Although there are a wide variety of stimuli and conditions, both physiological and pathological, that can trigger apoptosis, not all
cells will necessarily die in response to the same stimulus. Irradiation or
drugs used for
cancer chemotherapy results in DNA damage in some cells, which can lead to apoptotic death through a p53-dependent pathway. Some hormones, such as corticosteroids, may lead to apoptotic death in some
cells (e.g., thymocytes) although other
cells are unaffected or even stimulated.
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