title: Death by association: BH3 domain-only proteins and liver injury.
abstract: Apoptosis, a prominent form of cell death, is a prime feature of many acute and chronic liver diseases. Apoptosis requires mitochondrial dysfunction, which is regulated by proteins of the Bcl-2 family. Whether or not a cell should live or die is controlled by the interaction of multidomain Bcl-2 proteins with proapoptotic BH3 domain-only proteins of this family. Current models suggest multidomain, antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins prevent mitochondrial dysfunction by sequestering and/or preventing activation of its proapoptotic relatives. BH3-only proteins initiate cell death by neutralizing and or ligating multidomain prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins. Thus BH3 domain-only proteins are paramount in the apoptotic process as exemplified by the role of the BH3 domain-only protein Bid in liver injury. In this concise review, we will focus on how these BH3 domain-only proteins are regulated in the cell, their association with the Bcl-2 family of proteins, and finally, current information regarding their involvement in liver cell apoptosis and injury.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Baskin-Bey
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gores
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000502:physiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C484585:Hrk protein, rat; D009479:Neuropeptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein