betticus
10-17-2008, 05:53 AM
And I've found a very interesting article on the role of ... well, it's a pretty easy read compared to a lot of the stuff so give it a look.
http://grove.ufl.edu/~cleeuwen/mtapoptosis.htm
Summary:
Programmed cell death has received phenomenal attention in the past few years. It is now known that mitochondria play a central regulatory role in apoptosis, particularly through the cytochrome c pathway. Also, mitochondria and radical species are intimately involved in the programmed cell death that occurs during aging and exercise. Increased oxidative stress from ROS and RNS changes the cellular redox potentials, depletes glutathione, and decreases reducing equivalents like NADP and NADPH. These intracellular changes are sufficient to induce the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition pores, leading to the subsequent release of cytochrome c and the activation of the caspase cascade. We hypothesize that during chronic conditions of oxidative stress as in aging, tissues may undergo unnecessary and increased apoptosis, leading to pathological dysfunctions from significant cell loss. Similarly, uncontrolled and unnecessary apoptosis may occur during exhaustive exercise resulting in various pathologies.
http://grove.ufl.edu/~cleeuwen/mtapoptosis.htm
Summary:
Programmed cell death has received phenomenal attention in the past few years. It is now known that mitochondria play a central regulatory role in apoptosis, particularly through the cytochrome c pathway. Also, mitochondria and radical species are intimately involved in the programmed cell death that occurs during aging and exercise. Increased oxidative stress from ROS and RNS changes the cellular redox potentials, depletes glutathione, and decreases reducing equivalents like NADP and NADPH. These intracellular changes are sufficient to induce the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition pores, leading to the subsequent release of cytochrome c and the activation of the caspase cascade. We hypothesize that during chronic conditions of oxidative stress as in aging, tissues may undergo unnecessary and increased apoptosis, leading to pathological dysfunctions from significant cell loss. Similarly, uncontrolled and unnecessary apoptosis may occur during exhaustive exercise resulting in various pathologies.