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Regulation of the apoptosis–necrosis switch

Oncogene volume 23, pages 2757–2765 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Execution of the apoptotic program involves a relatively limited number of pathways. According to a general view, these would converge to activate the caspase family of proteases. However, there is increasing evidence that apoptotic-like features can also be found when caspases are inhibited. Moreover, under pathological conditions, apoptosis and nonapoptotic death paradigms are often interwined, which suggest that, in vivo, cells may use diverging execution pathways. Molecular switches between apoptosis and necrosis include adenosine triphosphate-dependent steps in the activation of caspases or steps sensitive to reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. In turn, caspase activation can cause necrosis by promoting ion overload.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Medical Research Council, and by grants from Telethon (E1224), AIRC, EU (QLG1-1999-00739 and QLK-CT-2002-01956), MIUR, MinSan to GM.

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  1. Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Leicester, UK

    Pierluigi Nicotera & Gerry Melino

  2. Fondazione S. Lucia, Roma, 00179

    Gerry Melino

  3. Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy

    Gerry Melino

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Correspondence to Pierluigi Nicotera.

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Nicotera, P., Melino, G. Regulation of the apoptosis–necrosis switch. Oncogene 23, 2757–2765 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1207559

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