Several factors can increase cell death. These include:
- Toxic chemicals or injury leading to damage of DNA or other important cellular targets: These can disrupt normal cellular processes and lead to cell death.
- Activation or inactivation of receptors by growth-regulating signal factors in the organism: These can trigger programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, which is a controlled process that removes unwanted or damaged cells.
- Endogenous expression of apolipoprotein E4 (APOE E4) by stem-cell-derived forebrain excitatory neurons: This can lead to calcium dysregulation and increased cell death, as seen in Alzheimer's disease.
- Protein misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER): This can trigger a process called ER stress, which leads to cell death through phosphorylation of eIF2α.
- Impairment of the PD-1 pathway: This can increase inflammation and atherosclerotic lesion formation, leading to cell death in the affected tissues.
- Selective BCL-2 inhibition: This can cause on-target cell death in certain types of cancer cells, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by targeting a specific protein involved in cell survival.
- Senolytic drugs targeting the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic family: These drugs can drive senescent cancer cells towards cell death, enhancing treatment response.
- Elevated levels of glucose and free fatty acids (FFAs): Chronic exposure to these can cause β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis, contributing to type 2 diabetes.
