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Apoptosis: a product of programmed and unprogrammed cell death
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-3835.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, is regulated by multiple pathways. Researchers recommend standardizing apoptosis terminology and cautioning against interpreting intermediates as universally applicable to all cell death pathways.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is characterized by distinct morphological and biochemical features.
- Recent interest in apoptosis stems from the identification of regulatory genes.
- Multiple pathways, both programmed and unprogrammed, can induce apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the terminology surrounding apoptosis.
- To highlight the complexity of cell death pathways.
- To address the use of apoptosis inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on apoptosis.
- Analysis of gene regulation in cell death.
- Examination of signaling mechanisms in apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Multiple distinct pathways can lead to apoptosis.
- Interpreting experimental results requires caution due to pathway diversity.
- The use of apoptosis inhibitors warrants careful consideration.
Conclusions:
- Standardized terminology for apoptosis is recommended.
- Understanding diverse cell death pathways is crucial for accurate research.
- Further research is needed to identify definitive regulatory mechanisms of apoptotic cell death.