Apoptosis and cell death in neuronal cells: where does Ca2+ fit in?
Mounting evidence shows that neuronal death is an important and essential component of brain tissue homeostasis, with major forms of cell death occurring: necrosis and apoptosis. No general consensus exists as to whether these two forms of neuronal death represent separate cellular processes or just two different forms of a common 'death pathway'. One difference between them is the role played by intracellular Ca2+: central and obligatory, in necrosis and possible, but not always necessary in triggering apoptosis. Furthermore, the same assessment of the involvement of Ca2+ signalling could also distinguish between two possible apoptotic states in the nervous system: one, the 'developmental apoptosis', involving immature and developing neurons, in which Ca2+ plays mainly an apoprotector role, and another one, associated mainly with pathological instances and involving fully matured and established neurons, in which Ca2+ plays an apo-inducing role.
Toescu
E C
EC
Dept. Physiology, Birmingham University, Edgbaston, UK. e.c.toescu@bham.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*
D002118:Calcium