Programmed cell death and the immune system.
More than 50 years ago, cells were observed to die during insect development via a process that was named 'programmed cell death'. Later, a similar cell death process was found to occur in humans, and the process was renamed 'apoptosis'. In the 1990s, a number of apoptosis-regulating molecules were identified, and apoptosis was found to have essential roles in the immune system. In this Timeline article, we highlight the key events that have demonstrated the importance of programmed cell death processes, including apoptosis and programmed necrosis, in the immune system.
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Shigekazu
S
Nagata
Laboratory of Immune Regulation, School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
Masato
M
Tanaka
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology