The molecular relationships between apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis

Najoua Lalaoui; Lisa M Lindqvist; Jarrod J Sandow; Paul G Ekert

doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.02.003

The molecular relationships between apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015 Mar:39:63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.02.003. Epub 2015 Feb 28.

Authors

Najoua Lalaoui¹, Lisa M Lindqvist², Jarrod J Sandow³, Paul G Ekert⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cell Signalling and Cell Death, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Electronic address: lalaoui@wehi.edu.au.
² Division of Cell Signalling and Cell Death, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Electronic address: lindqvist@wehi.edu.au.
³ Division of Cell Signalling and Cell Death, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Electronic address: sandow@wehi.edu.au.
⁴ Division of Cell Signalling and Cell Death, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Electronic address: paul.ekert@mcri.edu.au.

PMID: 25736836
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.02.003

Abstract

Cells are constantly subjected to a vast range of potentially lethal insults, which may activate specific molecular pathways that have evolved to kill the cell. Cell death pathways are defined partly by their morphology, and more specifically by the molecules that regulate and enact them. As these pathways become more thoroughly characterized, interesting molecular links between them have emerged, some still controversial and others hinting at the physiological and pathophysiological roles these death pathways play. We describe specific molecular programs controlling cell death, with a focus on some of the distinct features of the pathways and the molecular links between them.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Caspases; Necroptosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis*
Autophagy*
Cell Death*
Humans
Signal Transduction*