Apoptosis and genomic instability.
Genomic instability is intrinsically linked to significant alterations in apoptosis control. Chromosomal and microsatellite instability can cause the inactivation of pro-apoptotic pathways. In addition, the inhibition of apoptosis itself can be permissive for the survival and ongoing division of cells that have failed to repair DNA double-strand breaks, experience telomere dysfunction or are in an abnormal polyploid state. Furthermore, DNA-repair proteins can regulate apoptosis. So, genomic instability and apoptosis are intimately linked phenomena, with important implications for the pathophysiology of cancer.
Zhivotovsky
Boris
B
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Nobels väg 13, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. boris.zhivotovsky@imm.ki.se
Kroemer
Guido
G
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D011003:Ploidies; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53