Apoptosis as a therapeutic target for the treatment of lung disease.
It has been speculated that the destruction of lung tissue, associated with several acute and chronic diseases, is in part mediated through apoptosis or programmed cell death. Thus, it has been shown that both increased endothelial/epithelial cell apoptosis and decreased cell death of inflammatory cells are associated with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. In the light of these observations, it might be possible to use apoptosis modulation as a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of lung disease.
de Souza
Patricia M
PM
Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College Medical School, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK. p.desouza@imperial.ac.uk
Lindsay
Mark A
MA
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases