title: Environmental toxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis: ménage à trois.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Olea
authors.forename: Elsa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Reyes-Reyes
authors.forename: Mihalis I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Panayiotidis
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010575:Pesticides; D001194:Asbestos; D002248:Carbon Monoxide