Apoptosis in human skin: role in pathogenesis of various diseases and relevance for therapy.
Cell death by apoptosis is a physiological process that enables the elimination of cells without causing an inflammatory response. In self-renewing tissue like the epidermal layers of the skin, cell numbers are tightly regulated by a delicate balance between proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Besides cell death by terminal differentiation in normal skin, cell death can also be induced by exposure to sunlight. This paper will review the different forms of cell death in the skin and discuss the role of apoptosis in diseases like skin cancer, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Reefman
Esther
E
Departments of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. e.reefman@med.rug.nl
Limburg
Pieter C
PC
Kallenberg
Cees G M
CG
Bijl
Marc
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D013472:Sunlight