Regulated cell death: signaling and mechanisms

A Ashkenazi, G Salvesen - Annual review of cell and …, 2014 - annualreviews.org
Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 2014annualreviews.org
Cell turnover is a fundamental feature in metazoans. Cells can die passively, as a
consequence of severe damage to their structural integrity, or actively, owing to a more
confined biological disruption such as DNA damage. Passive cell death is uncontrolled and
often harmful to the organism. In contrast, active cell death is tightly regulated and serves to
support the organism's life. Apoptosis—the primary form of regulated cell death—is relatively
well defined. Necroptosis—an alternative, distinct kind of regulated cell death discovered …
Cell turnover is a fundamental feature in metazoans. Cells can die passively, as a consequence of severe damage to their structural integrity, or actively, owing to a more confined biological disruption such as DNA damage. Passive cell death is uncontrolled and often harmful to the organism. In contrast, active cell death is tightly regulated and serves to support the organism's life. Apoptosis—the primary form of regulated cell death—is relatively well defined. Necroptosis—an alternative, distinct kind of regulated cell death discovered more recently—is less well understood. Apoptosis and necroptosis can be triggered either from within the cell or by extracellular stimuli. Certain signaling components, including several death ligands and receptors, can regulate both processes. Whereas apoptosis is triggered and executed via intracellular proteases called caspases, necroptosis is suppressed by caspase activity. Here we highlight current understanding of the key signaling mechanisms that control regulated cell death.
Annual Reviews