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Apoptosis: A Two‐edged Sword in Aging
Author(s) -
WARNER HUBER R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb07917.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , mitochondrion , mitosis , reactive oxygen species , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , function (biology) , psychological intervention , neuroscience , medicine , genetics , psychiatry
Here we summarize briefly what is known about both the positive and negative impacts of apoptosis during aging in mammalian systems and also update an earlier review. It is important to understand both of these impacts to devise useful interventions. Such interventions include both physiological and molecular approaches, including transgenic interventions. The critical roles of the mitochondria in both generating reactive oxygen species, and in initiating apoptosis are recognized, suggesting that maintaining mitochondrial function could be an important therapeutic goal, especially in post‐mitotic tissues. In contrast, the ability to eliminate unwanted, damaged and dysfunctional cells through apoptosis has anti‐aging implications in mitotic tissues.