The study of cell death has emerged as an important and exciting area of re
search in cell biology; Although two kinds of cell death, apoptosis and nec
rosis, are recognized, one of the major advances in our understanding of ce
ll death has been the recognition that the pathways traditionally associate
d with apoptosis may be very critical in the form of cell injury associated
with necrosis. Renal tubular epithelial cell injury from ischemia or toxin
s has generally been regarded as a result of a necrotic form of cell death,
We briefly describe recent evidence indicating apoptotic mechanisms includ
ing endonuclease activation in renal tubular injury and some mediators (oxi
dants, caspases and ceramide) which regulate this process, The pathway that
is followed by the cell is dependent on both the nature and severity of in
sults, and it is likely that the cascades that lead to the apoptotic or nec
rotic mode of cell death are activated almost simultaneously and may share
some common pathways. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.