Apoptosis overview

Bredesen, D.E. Apoptosis overview and signal transduction pathways. /. Neurotrauma. 17 801-810, 2000. 

C. M. Payne, C. Bernstein and H. Bernstein, Apoptosis overview emphasizing the role of oxidative stress, DNA damage and signal-transduction pathways, Leuk. Lymphoma, 1995, 19(1-2), 43. 

Kroemer G. Mitochondrial control of apoptosis an overview. In Brown GC, Nicholls DG, Cooper CE, eds. Mitochondria and Cell Death. Princeton, New Jersey Princeton University Press, 1999 1-15. 

The control of cell numbers is regulated by cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Increased proliferation and/or decreased apoptosis result in neoplasia. In addition to inhibition of proliferation or induction of differentiation, the modulation of apoptosis can be employed for treatment for cancer. Several anticancer agents in use are potent inducers of apoptosis (Dive and Hickman, 1991 Fisher, 1994). Tumor promotion may result in decreased apoptosis. Because PKC activation by TPA induces carcinogenesis, it seems that PKC may be involved in apoptosis. There are many reports on the effects of PKC on apoptosis. However, the results are very controversial. Here an overview of these data is presented. 

Figure 14-8. Overview of pathways that regulate programmed cell death. Apoptosis may occur in response to signaling through either the extrinsic pathway or the intrinsic pathway. In each case, proteolytic cleavage activates an initiator caspase, caspase 8 or 9, either of which can cleave an effector caspase such as caspase 3. Apaf-1 is part of a large complex called the apoptosome that mediates the intrinsic pathway. Binding of an extracellular death ligand to its cell-surface receptor activates the extrinsic pathway.

ML Majno, G., and Joris, L, Apoptosis, oncosis, and necrosis. An overview of cell death. Arrr J. Pathol. 146,3-15 (1995). 

Wyllie, A. 1-i. (1992) Apoptosis and the regulation of cell numbers in normal and neoplastic tissues an overview. Cancer Metastasis Rev. It, 95-103. 

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