Apoptosis is a kind of programmed cell death, that is, intrinsically programmed “cell suicide process”. Apoptosis is characterized morphologically by condensation of chromatin at the nucleary boundary, blebbing at the cell surface, and breakdown of DNA. Mammalian T and B lymphocytes, thymocytes, show a typical apoptosis immediately. Apoptosis appears also during radiotherapy of tumor, especially of thymoma. Ionizing radiation also induces apoptosis in peripheral mature lymphocytes. Tumor suppressor gene such as p53 and oncogene such as bcl-2 are j'ound to be closely related to apoptotic processes in a cell.
Programmed cell death may play a part in the aetiology of cancer, AIDS, autoimmune diseases, and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. The pharmacological manipulation of apoptosis offers new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of these illnesses. IJournal ofTurgut Ozal Medical Center 2(2) .206-220,1995]
Key Words : Apoptosis, programmed cell death, induced suicide, cancer, autoimmune disease, AIDS
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