title: Neuronal apoptosis in neurodegeneration.
abstract: Apoptosis mediates the precise and programmed natural death of neurons and is a physiologically important process in neurogenesis during maturation of the central nervous system. However, premature apoptosis and/or an aberration in apoptosis regulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, a multifaceted process that leads to various chronic disease states, such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), Huntington's (HD) diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and diabetic encephalopathy. The current review focuses on two major areas (a) the fundamentals of apoptosis, which includes elements of the apoptotic machinery, apoptosis inducers, and emerging concepts in apoptosis research, and (b) apoptotic involvement in neurodegenerative disorders, neuroprotective treatment strategies/modalities, and the mechanisms of, and signaling in, neuronal apoptosis. Current and new experimental models for apoptosis research in neurodegenerative diseases are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Bioregulation, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okouchi
authors.forename: Oleksandr
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekshyyan
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maracine
authors.forename: Tak Yee
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Aw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species