Apoptosis is a genetically regulated form of cell
death that occurs when the cell is exposed to
physiological, pathogenic, or cytotoxic stimuli.
Unregulated apoptosis at any time from embryogenesis
to adulthood can result in a variety of disease
states, such as neurodegenerative disorders,
autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, liver and
kidney problems, and cancer. A reasonable estimation
is that either too little or too much cell death
contributes to half of the main medical illnesses
for which adequate therapy or prevention is lacking.
The apoptotic pathways can be initiated by reactive
oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory molecules,
both of which are believed to be up-regulated in a
state of obesity. In addition, multiple studies have
shown that the risk of developing cardiovascular
disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancers
increase with increasing degree of obesity in both
men and women. Despite the well characterized
association of obesity and disease incidence, the
mechanisms by which obesity contributes to disease
pathology are poorly understood.
death that occurs when the cell is exposed to
physiological, pathogenic, or cytotoxic stimuli.
Unregulated apoptosis at any time from embryogenesis
to adulthood can result in a variety of disease
states, such as neurodegenerative disorders,
autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, liver and
kidney problems, and cancer. A reasonable estimation
is that either too little or too much cell death
contributes to half of the main medical illnesses
for which adequate therapy or prevention is lacking.
The apoptotic pathways can be initiated by reactive
oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory molecules,
both of which are believed to be up-regulated in a
state of obesity. In addition, multiple studies have
shown that the risk of developing cardiovascular
disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancers
increase with increasing degree of obesity in both
men and women. Despite the well characterized
association of obesity and disease incidence, the
mechanisms by which obesity contributes to disease
pathology are poorly understood.