Corcoran G B, Fix L, Jones D P, Moslen M T, Nicotera P, Oberhammer F A, Buttyan R
Toxicology Program, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque 87131.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1994 Oct;128(2):169-81. doi: 10.1006/taap.1994.1195.
Apoptosis is a controlled form of cell death that serves as a molecular point of regulation for biological processes. Cell selection by apoptosis occurs during normal physiological functions as well as toxicities and diseases. Apoptosis is the counterpart and counterbalance to mitosis in cell population determination. Complex patterns of cell signaling and specific gene expression are clearly involved in the control of cell fate. Exposure to an apogen, a trigger of apoptosis, can significantly increase apoptotic cell loss during homeostatic processes as well as acute or chronic toxicities. Alternately, suppression of apoptosis through, for example, interference in cell signaling can result in pathological accumulation of aberrant cells and diseases such as tumors. Investigations into the mechanisms underlying apoptosis have extended into many areas, driven by increasingly sophisticated instrumental and molecular biology techniques. This symposium summary explores related aspects of apoptosis, including control of cell population size and function, specific gene activity and regulation, chromatin condensation and scaffold detachment, oxidative stress-induced cell proliferation versus death by apoptosis or necrosis, and hepatotoxicant-induced apoptosis versus necrosis. Insights into the mechanisms governing apoptosis and increasing appreciation of the relevance of apoptotic cell death are redirecting research in toxicology and carcinogenesis and are yielding novel therapeutic approaches for the control of toxicity, disease, and ultimately perhaps senescence.
细胞凋亡是一种可控的细胞死亡形式，它是生物过程的分子调控点。在正常生理功能以及毒性作用和疾病过程中，都会通过细胞凋亡进行细胞选择。在细胞群体的确定过程中，细胞凋亡与有丝分裂相对应且相互平衡。细胞信号传导的复杂模式和特定的基因表达显然参与了细胞命运的控制。接触凋亡原（一种细胞凋亡的触发因素）会在稳态过程以及急性或慢性毒性作用期间显著增加凋亡细胞的损失。相反，通过例如干扰细胞信号传导来抑制细胞凋亡，可能会导致异常细胞的病理性积累以及诸如肿瘤等疾病。随着仪器和分子生物学技术日益复杂，对细胞凋亡潜在机制的研究已扩展到许多领域。本次研讨会综述探讨了细胞凋亡的相关方面，包括细胞群体大小和功能的控制、特定基因的活性和调控、染色质浓缩和支架脱离、氧化应激诱导的细胞增殖与细胞凋亡或坏死导致的死亡，以及肝毒性物质诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死。对细胞凋亡调控机制的深入了解以及对凋亡细胞死亡相关性的日益重视，正在重新引导毒理学和致癌作用的研究，并产生控制毒性、疾病以及最终可能控制衰老的新治疗方法。
