Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a crucial process for normal development and tissue homeostasis. However, alterations in this process can contribute to various diseases. While insufficient apoptosis can lead to conditions like cancer (where cells fail to die when they should), excessive apoptosis, leading to the unwarranted death of cells, is implicated in several other pathological states.
According to the information presented in the reference titled "Role of Apoptosis in disease", several diseases involve alterations in apoptosis. Based on the context of this source, certain neurological conditions are associated with excessive apoptosis, resulting in the loss of vital cells.
Diseases Associated with Excessive Apoptosis
The following diseases, listed in the reference's Table 1 as involving "alterations of apoptosis," are linked to excessive cell death:
- Parkinson's Disease: Characterized by the progressive death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
- Huntington's Disease: A neurodegenerative disorder causing the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Involves the death of motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movement.
- Stroke: Can lead to significant neuronal death in the affected area of the brain due to lack of blood flow.
Excessive apoptosis in these conditions often contributes to the progressive loss of specific cell populations, impairing the function of organs, particularly the nervous system.
Reference Source Table Snippet
The provided snippet from the reference table highlights several diseases where apoptosis alterations are involved:
| Disease | References |
|---|---|
| Cancer | |
| Parkinson | [63, 184, 185] |
| Huntington | [186-188] |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | [189-191] |
| Stroke | [192-194] |
This table shows that these diseases are linked to changes in the apoptotic process. As detailed in the source document, Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, and Stroke are specifically associated with an increase in apoptosis, leading to excessive cell death.
