Apoptosis

Apoptosis is programmed cell death occurring as a result of a genetic program activated by developmental and environmental stimuli. Apoptosis is a normal physiological event. Dysregulation of the genetic programme for apoptosis can trigger pathological events, embryonic lethality, changes of postnatal development and increased risk of cancer. Therapeutic agents affecting the regulation of apoptosis open new possibilities of treatment of a number of apoptosis-induced diseases, including cancer. When cellular degeneration is a result of a disease process, recovery may be obtained by either inducing or inhibiting apoptosis. Recently, new apoptosis-regulating genes have been identified, which may provide targets for many drugs developed to treat apoptosis-induced diseases.