Axonal Self-Destruction and Neurodegeneration

作者：MARTIN C. RAFF, Alan V. Whitmore, John T. Finn · 发表于：Science · 年份：2002 · DOI：10.1126/science.1068613 · 被引用次数：643 · 研究领域：Nerve injury and regeneration、Alzheimer's disease research and treatments、Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Neurons seem to have at least two self-destruct programs. Like other cell types, they have an intracellular death program for undergoing apoptosis when they are injured, infected, or not needed. In addition, they apparently have a second, molecularly distinct self-destruct program in their axon. This program is activated when the axon is severed and leads to the rapid degeneration of the isolated part of the cut axon. Do neurons also use this second program to prune their axonal tree during development and to conserve resources in response to chronic insults?