Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 14, Issue 2, 2008

Extensive studies have been devoted to mechanisms leading to the activation of cell death. Three major types of cell death are distinguished based on different criteria: apoptosis, oncosis and autophagic cell death. All these processes are well conserved in life evolution as highlighted in the reviews here gathered. Samara and Tavernarakis review the current understanding of cell death pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans, fo Read More

Cell death is a major component of developmental programs. Controlled killing of specific cells at appropriate time points is required for normal growth and shaping of organisms. However, cellular demolition can also result in a variety of pathologies that are frequently fatal, when implemented inappropriately. Delineation of cell death mechanisms has been greatly facilitated by the use of simple model organisms s Read More

Autophagy is a process in which eukaryotic cells sequester and degrade cytoplasm and organelles via the lysosomal pathway. This process allows turnover of intracellular organelles, participates in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and prevents accumulation of defective cellular structures. Increased autophagy is normally induced by environmental cues such as starvation and hormones, while excessive levels of Read More

The present review summarizes findings on stress-induced cell death in the IPLB-LdFB insect cell line derived from the larval fat body of the lepidopteron Lymantria dispar. Apoptotic, oncotic and autophagic cell death have been described in these cells as a consequence of oxidative stress or ATP deprivation, and similarities between IPLB-LdFB and mammalian apoptotic pathways have been highlighted. Furthermore, startin Read More

Molluscan defense mechanisms are regulated to innate immunity, which is largely dependent on cellular components such as hemocytes possessing phagocytic and bactericidal activities. Among immune responses, apoptosis is an indispensable process because it enables the adequate clearance of damaged, senescent and infected cells without inflammation. Available information related to the molecular mechanisms o Read More

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri forms new zooids by blastogenesis, through the formation of palleal buds which progressively grow and mature until adults are formed. At a temperature of 19°C, adult zooids remain active for about one week; then they contract, close their siphons and are gradually resorbed, being replaced by buds which reach functional maturity, open their siphons and begin their filtering activity Read More

Apoptosis is a genetically controlled and evolutionarily conserved form of active cell death, albeit with an increase in complexity with continuing development. A high conservation at the functional and molecular level has been described between the players of the apoptotic machinery in invertebrates (Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila) and mammals. However, fish represent an excellent and advantageous model fo Read More

The relevance of fish research has been rising due to the expansion of aquaculture and to the increasing use of fish as replacements for mammals in the study of human physiological and pathological issues. Fish have much smaller genomes compared to mammals, and zebrafish, fugu, medaka and spotted green puffer fish have the sequence of their genomes completed or near completion. Fish have several of the virtues of Dro Read More

During embryogenesis there is an exquisite orchestration of cellular division, movement, differentiation, and death. Cell death is one of the most important aspects of organization of the developing embryo, as alteration in timing, level, or pattern of cell death can lead to developmental anomalies. Cell death shapes the embryo and defines the eventual functions of the organs. Cells die using different paths; understandin Read More