Regulation of death receptor-mediated apoptosis pathways.
Apoptosis or programmed cell death can be induced by a variety of stimuli including activation of death receptors. This subgroup of the TNF/NGF-receptor-superfamily activates caspases, a family of aspartyl-specific cysteine-proteases, which are the main executioners of apoptosis. Depending on the cell type, signalling pathways downstream of the death receptors can be modulated by different proteins such as Bcl-2, FLIPs, chaperones and kinases. Deregulation of apoptosis has been associated with diseases as cancer, autoimmunity and AIDS. Therefore, the identification of modulators of apoptosis has several therapeutic implications.
Schmitz
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Tumorimmunology Program, Division of Immunogenetics, German Cancer Research Centre, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Kirchhoff
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Krammer
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D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D008024:Ligands; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D019014:fas Receptor; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D020169:Caspases