Active killing of neurons during development and following stress: a role for p75(NTR) and Fas?

Evidence for active triggering of neuronal death continues to accumulate. T he transmembrane receptors p75(NTR) and Fas can trigger (and in some cases are required for) programmed cell death of the neurons that express them, t hrough signalling pathways that are regulated by a variety of cytoplasmic e ffecters. Neuronal death induced by trophic deprivation often requires Fas signalling, further blurring the boundaries between naturally occurring and stress-induced neuronal death.