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Apoptosis: a product of programmed and unprogrammed cell death

A Eastman1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-3835.

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
|July 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

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.

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