Apoptosis in the kidney

Apoptosis is a highly regulated mechanism of cell death. Although apoptosis has a functional role in normal development and tissue homeostasis, aberra nt triggering of the process by toxicants may lead to abnormal function or disease. Low level exposures to toxicants that induce apoptosis in kidney m ay therefore create a critical disturbance in kidney homeostasis, contribut ing to renal neoplasia or renal disease. In this report, we review the invo lvement of apoptosis in normal kidney development and in renal disease and discuss some of the toxicants and molecular factors involved in regulation of the process in renal cells.