Genetic control of neural cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis is a mode of cell death in which the cell plays an active role in its own death. Apoptosis occurs both within and outside the nervous system. Neural apoptosis occurs not only in neural development, but also in pathophysiological states such as stroke and beta-amyloid peptide toxicity. The mechanism by which apoptosis occurs is unknown, but several genes controlling the process have been identified. In some cases, these genes also have an effect on necrotic neural cell death. The finding that the cell plays an active role in its own death, and that specific gene products are involved, suggests that therapeutic intervention may be feasible.