APOPTOSIS - A BRIEF REVIEW

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a genetically controlled metho d of regulating cell mass. The process is characterized by distinct mo rphologic and bio-chemical features, including cell shrinkage,membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, externalization of phosphatidylserine, and initiation of apoptotic signal transduction . The cascade of biochemical reactions initiated by apoptosis may incl ude blew mRNA, and protein synthesis, p53 expression, caspase activati on, caspase-activated endonuclease action and/or Fas lignad/tumor necr osis factor receptor death domain activation. The pathophysiology of s everal disease including autoimmune disorders may be caused by excessi ve or depressed levels of apoptotic activity.