Apoptosis and autoimmune disorders

Apoptosis or programmed cell death plays a central role in regulating not only the development of lymphocytes but also in their homeostasis. A breakdown in apoptosis related signaling mechanisms could result in the development of autoimmune disorders. The past decade has witnessed an explosive increase in knowledge with respect to various apoptotic signaling pathways and their aberrant behavior in autoimmune disorders. Although Fas/FasL mediated signaling appears to be a common paradigm that has emerged from studies in various autoimmune disorders, examples suggesting a role for other cell death pathways have also surfaced. Understanding the definitive role of apoptosis in various autoimmune disorders is likely to define novel targets for future therapeutic intervention.