Abstract

Defects in apoptotic cell-death regulation contribute to many disorders. Insufficient apoptosis leads to neoplastic and autoimmune disorders and chronic infections. Enhanced apoptosis is a cause of neurodegenerative disorder and complicates processes of ischemia. Genetic changes involving oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes contribute to the unregulated expansion of malignant cells. While some of these changes result in increased proliferation, others contribute to increasing cell numbers by inhibiting apoptosis. Because cytotoxic drugs or irradiation result in cell death by apoptosis, the genetic changes underlying malignancy often reduce the ability of these agents to destroy malignant cells. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis provides insight into the causes of multiple pathologies where abberant cell-death regulation occurs and provides new approaches to the treatment of human diseases.

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