Environmental toxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis: ménage à trois.
Apoptosis is an evolutionary conserved homeostatic process involved in distinct physiological processes including organ and tissue morphogenesis, development and senescence. Its deregulation is also known to participate in the etiology of several human diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. Environmental stressors (cytotoxic agents, pollutants or toxicants) are well known to induce apoptotic cell death and to contribute to a variety of pathological conditions. Oxidative stress seems to be the central element in the regulation of the apoptotic pathways triggered by environmental stressors. In this work, we review the established mechanisms by which oxidative stress and environmental stressors regulate the apoptotic machinery with the aim to underscore the relevance of apoptosis as a component in environmental toxicity and human disease progression.
Franco
Rodrigo
R
Laboratory of Signal Transduction, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P. O. Box 12233, 111. T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States. franco2@mail.nih.gov
Sánchez-Olea
Roberto
R
Reyes-Reyes
Elsa M
EM
Panayiotidis
Mihalis I
MI
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010575:Pesticides; D001194:Asbestos; D002248:Carbon Monoxide