Neuronal apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases: from basic research to clinical application.
In recent years, the investigation of erroneous regulation of apoptotic mechanisms during acute and chronic injury of neuronal cells has gained increasing attention. Besides acute neuronal trauma and ischemia, chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's and Lou-Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are of particular interest. The present article will provide an overview of basic apoptotic mechanisms, the contribution of neuronal apoptosis to the above-mentioned disorders, potential clinical applications and their limitations and the possible implications for future studies regarding these neurodegenerative diseases.
Kermer
Pawel
P
Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. pkermer@gwdg.de
Liman
Jan
J
Weishaupt
Jochen H
JH
Bähr
Mathias
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*