Molecular signal transduction in vascular cell apoptosis

INTRODUCTIONApoptosis represents a model of genetically pro--grammed ce1l death and a major mechanism bywhiCh tissue removes unwanted, aged or damagedce1ls. Although cells of mammalian tissues consist ofa broad dtwsity of phenotypes and g6notypes, during the developmeat of apoptosis, all cell types un-dergo similar morphological alteratiOns include chro-matin compaction and margination, nuclear conden-sation and fragmentation, and cell body sbIinkageand b1ebbingf1l. Characteristic apopto…

Molecular signal transduction in vascular cell apoptosis

Apoptosis is a form of genetically programmed cell death, which plays a key role in regulation of cellularity in a variety of tissue and cell types including the cardiovascular tissues. Under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, various biophysiological and biochemical factors, including mechanical forces, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, cytokines, growth factors, oxidized lipoproteins, etc., ma influence apoptosis of vascular cells. The Fas/Fas ligand/caspase death-signaling pathway, Bcl-2 protein family/mitochondria, the tumor suppressive gene p53, and the proto-oncogene c-myc may be activated in atherosclerotic lesions, and mediates vascular apoptosis during the development of atherosclerosis. Abnormal expression and dysfunction of these apoptosis-regulating genes may attenuate or accelerate vascular cell apoptosis and affect the integrity and stability of atherosclerotic plaques. Clarification of the molecular mechanism that regulates apoptosis may help design a new strategy for treatment of atherosclerosis and ii major complication, the acute vascular syndromes.