Significant progress has recently occurred in the understanding of the
molecular mechanisms mediating vertebrate programmed cell death, or a
poptosis. New advances in this field have stemmed from the identificat
ion of ICE (caspase-1) as the founding member of the mammalian caspase
cell death family. Apoptotic cell death plays an important role in ne
uronal cell death. Both in vitro and in vivo evidence implicates ICE a
s an important factor in neuronal apoptosis, especially under patholog
ical conditions. In addition, other caspases, such as caspase-3, have
also been shown to be activated and may play a role in pathological ne
uronal loss. Understanding the basic mechanisms mediating cell death i
n neurodegenerative disease may lead to the development of novel appro
aches for the treatment of diseases featuring apoptosis.