摘要
Apoptosis can be triggered by a variety of stimuli including death factors, anti-cancer drugs and factor-deprivation. These apoptotic cells are swiftly phagocytosed by macrophages to prevent the release of noxious or inflammatory materials from dying cells. The molecular analysis of Fas ligand (a death factor)-induced apoptosis indicated that a cascade of proteases (caspases) is activated during this process, which eventually activates a specific DNase (caspase-activated DNase). CAD exists as a complex with its inhibitor (ICAD) in proliferating cells. When the cells are triggered to apoptosis, caspases, in particular caspase 3, in the downstream of the caspase cascade cleave ICAD, which releases CAD to cause DNA degradation in nuclei.
