| The first section of this work addressed the relationship between apoptotic and necrotic cell death and their role in inflammatory lung injury induced by endotoxin.; In the second section, the focus shifted to the role of ROS in FasL-induced cell death. Given that Fas/FasL pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory disorders, potential therapeutic utility of antioxidants was investigated in an in vitro model.; Based on the findings presented within this work, excessive apoptosis and consequent inability of the tissues's phagocytes to promptly clear apoptotic bodies results in secondary necrosis and amplification of the overall tissue damage via release of the noxious cellular contents into the environment. Such relationship illustrates the apoptosis-necrosis paradox and suggests that strategies directed towards apoptosis inhibition and/or stimulation of the phagocyte system may show therapeutic utility in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
