Apoptosis signaling in lymphocytes

Lymphocyte apoptosis is essential for proper function of the immune system. Among other functions, it is responsible for the homeostasis of immune cel ls and plays a key role in the elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes. Rec ently, progress has been made in the identification of genes that regulate apoptosis. Studies characterizing the basic apoptosis signaling machinery h ave begun to reveal the molecular control of processes that modulate lympho cyte apoptosis.