Role of apoptosis in pathogenesis of oral lesions: Molecular approach

Abstract

Research in histology, genetics, and molecular biology indicate that virtually all animal cells are armed with the genetic machinery to die. Under normal physiological circumstances, damaged cells are removed through a genetically programmed type of cell death. The aberrations in the regulation of genetically programmed cell death have been found to cause disease and deformity. Cell death, the ultimate result of cell injury, is one of the most crucial events in pathology, affecting every cell type and being the major consequence of ischemia (lack of blood flow), infection, toxins and immune reactions. Cell death is critical during normal embryogenosis, lymphoid tissue development and normally induced involution and is the aim of cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This article discusses role of apoptotis in pathologies of potentially malignant, malignant, autoimmune and reactive lesions of oral cavity.