62. Apoptosis – molecular mechanisms and biological role.

Internal and
external pathways of apoptosis. Signals of death-receptors. Role of caspases in
apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic signals for cell survival – role of PI3K and PKB/Akt.
Regulation and clinical significance of programmed cell death.

(Signals of death-receptors. Role of caspases in apoptosis) (Apoptosis –

molecular mechanisms) (Anti-apoptotic signals for cell survival – role of PI3K
and PKB/Akt.)

) included in the scheme.

External Pathway of
Apoptosis

Apoptosis also known as programmed cell death, is

very important for the cells of the body. The cells of
the body need to be killed at a certain point to prevent
non stop growth, like cancer cells. Changes occur in
the cell once it has received its signal for death, these
changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear frahmentation, chromatin
condensation and hromosomal DNA fragmentation.  

Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis

In the intrinsic pathway (mitochondrial mediated) the cell kills itself as it senses
cell stress. The cellular contents are degraded by capspases. After the cell has
been signalled the mitochondria releases cytochrome cinto the cytoplasm. This
then forms a apoptosome and causes the activation of the caspase cascade
through caspcase 9. Then activates caspase 3, capase cascade and then
apoptosis occurs.

In the extrinsic pathway (death receptor mediated) the cell is signalled by

other cells to die. The ligand binds to the death receptors. Bound to the
intracellular part of the receptor is procaspase 8 which due to the bind of the
ligand with the receptor releases as is caspase 8. A caspase cascade is activated
and then apoptosis occurs.