Apoptosis: the physiologic pathway of cell death

Abstract

Physiologic roles of apoptosis may be subverted in pathologic processes. Apoptotic control of lymphocyte overproduction, for example, protects against cancer and autoimmunity, but in a disease such as AIDS, helper T cells may be programmed for suicide rather than an immune response. Drugs could be designed to limit apoptosis in AIDS or myocardial infarction or to promote apoptosis of tumor cells.