Cell Death Signalling Pathways in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Haematologic Malignancies: Overview of Apoptotic Pathways

Klener, P.; Anděra, L.; Klener, P.; Nečas, E.; Živný, Jan

doi:10.14712/fb2006052010034

Fol. Biol. 2006, 52, 34-44

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2006052010034

Cell Death Signalling Pathways in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Haematologic Malignancies: Overview of Apoptotic Pathways

P. Klener, Jr.^1,2, L. Anděra³, P. Klener^4,5, E. Nečas^1,2, Jan Živný^1,2

¹Centre of Experimental Hematology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
²Department of Pathophysiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
³Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Apoptosis, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
⁴1st Medical Department – Clinical Department of Haematology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
⁵Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic

Received April 2006
Accepted May 2006

Apoptosis, a Greek descriptive term for falling leaves or petals, plays an important role in the progression of many diseases. Apoptosis is essential for the development and survival of multi-cellular organisms. Malignant diseases, including haematologic malignancies, are associated with defects in the cell death mechanism. These defects are not only important for the growth advantage of malignant clones, but when understood can be used for specific therapeutic targeting of malignant cells while sparing normal cells. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis have been extensively demonstrated and are reviewed in this article. In this part of the review we focus on basic details of the apoptosis pathways, key players of the receptor-mediated apoptosis, and molecules involved in the cross-talk between individual apoptosis pathways and apoptosis regulation.