Programmed cell death (PCD) is a physiological cell death process involved in the selective elimination of unwanted cells (Ellis et al., 1991). In animals, these unwanted cells include those that have served temporary functions, such as tadpole tail cells at metamorphosis; cells that are overproduced, such as vertebrate neurons; cells that are unwanted or present in inappropriate positions, suc...

Polyamines (PAs) have been considered as important molecules for survival. However, evidence reinforces that PAs are also implicated, directly or indirectly, in pathways regulating programmed cell death (PCD). Direct correlation of PAs with cell death refers to their association with particular biological processes, and their physical contact with molecules or structures involved in cell death....

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is important in the development and homeostasis of metazoans. In the nematode C. elegans, four genes, egl-1, ced-9, ced-4, and ced-3, constitute the core pathway acting in all somatic programmed cell deaths. This pathway is evolutionarily conserved in humans. The BH3-only protein EGL-1 is transcriptionally upregulated in cells fated to undergo programmed cel...

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating disorder characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons caused by programmed cell death. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the major programmed cell death pathways as they relate to PD. For a long time, programmed cell death has been synonymous with apoptosis but there now is evidence that other types of programmed c...

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating disorder characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons caused by programmed cell death. The aim of this review is to provide an upto-date summary of the major programmed cell death pathways as they relate to PD. For a long time, programmed cell death has been synonymous with apoptosis but there now is evidence that other types of programmed ce...