title: [Cell survival: differences and differentiation].
abstract: The regulatory mechanisms of cell survival and apoptosis are very complex in nature, implicating numerous players and signaling pathways not only in the decision-making process of surviving (or dying), but as well as in the execution of apoptosis itself. The same complex nature applies with regards to anoikis, a form of apoptosis that is largely regulated by integrin-mediated, cell-extracellular matrix interactions. However, cell survival, apoptosis and anoikis also happen to implicate further mechanistic distinctions according to the specific tissue and/or cell type concerned. Incidentally, recent studies in a particular tissue, the human intestinal epithelium, have unearthed yet another layer of complexity in the regulation of these three cellular processes, namely the implication of differentiation state-specific mechanisms. Although our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of this new concept of differentiation state-distinct regulation of cell survival, apoptosis and/or anoikis is in its infancy, there is already evidence that such principle applies as well to cell types other than intestinal epithelial cells. Further studies on the differentiation state-specific regulation of these three cellular processes, either under normal or physiopathological situations, should prove crucial in increasing our understanding of pathologies which implicate a dysregulation of apoptosis and/or anoikis - such as cancer.
authors.affiliation: Groupe IRSC, Développement Fonctionnel et Physiopathologie du Tractus Digestif, Département d'Anatomie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. Pierre.H.Vachon@USherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Pierre H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Vachon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D016023:Integrins