title: Programmed cell death in neurodevelopment.
abstract: Programmed cell death (PCD) is an evolutionarily conserved contributor to nervous system development. In the vertebrate peripheral nervous system, PCD is the basis of the neurotrophic theory, whereby cell death results from a surplus of neurons relative to target and competition for neurotrophic factors. In addition to stochastic cell death, PCD can be intrinsically determined by cell lineage or position and timing in both invertebrate and vertebrate central nervous systems. The underlying PCD molecular mechanisms include intrinsic transcription factor cascades and regulators of competence/susceptibility to cell death. Here, we provide a framework for understanding neural PCD from its regulation to its functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; PRESTO (Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan. Electronic address: bunbun@mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan. Electronic address: miura@mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors