Redox regulation of apoptotic cell death in the immune system

Apoptosis is a special form of cell death, which can be triggered by a vari ety of signals and pathophysiological conditions, including oxidative stres s. Activation of members of the caspase family of cysteine proteases is a c rucial event in the apoptotic death program. Being cysteine proteases, the caspases are sensitive to the redox status of the cell, and their activity is blocked by excessive oxidative stress. Thus, alterations of intracellula r redox status may either trigger or block the apoptotic death program, dep ending on the severity of the oxidative stress. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.