As. Pac. J. Mol. Biol. & Biotech., Dec 1999 Vol.72) : 97-108

Liver apoptosis

S.H. Inayat Hussain

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<

Received 29 December l999 / Accepted 31 December 1999

Abstract.

Apoptosis, a morphologically distinct mode of cell death occurs as a result of both physiological and pathological stimuli in a variety of mammalian organs including the liver. In this overview, the importance and role of apoptosis during hepatocarcinogenesis is described. Evidence for toxicant/drug and receptor induced apoptosis and its importance in certain liver diseases are also provided in this review. This overview is meant to serve as a foundation to the importance of the role of apoptosis especially in certain liver diseases.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Fas, hepatitis, hepatocarcinogenesis, hepatocytes, liver, TGF ß1