Apoptosis - A Begining of Programmed Ending

A dysfunctional apoptotic system can lead to either excessive removal or prolonged survival of cells. Therefore, dysregulation of apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases such as cancers, viral infections and immunological disorders. Mitochondrial physiology is disrupted in cells undergoing either apoptosis or necrosis. During apoptosis mitochondrial permeability is altered and apoptosis specific protease activators are released from mitochondria. The ability of viruses to both induce and evade apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of viral diseases. The understanding of these mechanisms is important for the elucidation of the molecular basis of viral diseases and for the development of vaccines and effective inhibitors directed against viral proteins.