title: No life without death.
abstract: Apoptosis-programed cell death-is the most common form of death in the body. Once apoptosis is induced, proper execution of the cell death program requires the coordinated activation and execution of multiple molecular processes. Here, we describe the pathways and the basic components of the death-inducing machinery. Since apoptosis is a key regulator of tissue homeostasis, an imbalance of apoptosis results in severe diseases like cancer, autoimmunity, and AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Immunology Program D030, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiessling
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gülow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000502:physiology; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain / Q000502:physiology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019014:fas Receptor; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide