title: [Apoptosis: physiological cell death and its role in pathogenesis of diseases].
abstract: Apoptosis is a physiological process of cell death by which a single cell may be eliminated from the living tissue. Since the process is mediated by specific proteins encoded in the host's genome, it is also a programmed cell death. Apoptosis is responsible for tissue remodelling during the development and turnover of normal tissue (e.g. haematopoietic cells) throughout the life span of multicellular organisms. In contrast to cells undergoing a pathological cell death (necrosis), the morphological changes that accompany apoptosis are characterised by condensation of chromatin and cytoplasm and subsequent fragmentation of the cell into small membrane-bound segments called apoptotic bodies. The maintenance of membrane integrity in apoptosis prevents the release of deleterious cytoplasmic substances and the activation of inflammatory responses. Apoptosis can be initiated by a variety of events arising either within the cell (p53) or externally (death receptor ligands engaging specific cell surface receptors of the target cell). Following recognition of the stimuli and clustering of membrane proteins into a death domain, certain cytoplasmic proenzymes are converted to their active form (caspases). After the death effector machinery is activated, the cell enters the irreversible common degradation phase of cytoskeletal disorganisation. Survival proteins (bcl-2 family) control the caspase-driven engine of destruction. Disordered apoptotic process participates in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as neoplasms, chronic inflammatory or systemic autoimmune diseases, and other conditions.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Neuropatologii Rozwojowej Instytutu Medycyny Doświadczalnej i Klinicznej im. Mirosława Mossakowskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk w Warszawie. Maslinskad@cmdik.pan.pl
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maślińska
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056484:Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C064601:L12E protein, Trypanosoma cruzi; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C408123:phosphatidylserine receptor; C498707:JMJD6 protein, human; D056484:Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases