Apoptosis signaling in lymphocytes.

Lymphocyte apoptosis is essential for proper function of the immune system. Among other functions, it is responsible for the homeostasis of immune cells and plays a key role in the elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes. Recently, progress has been made in the identification of genes that regulate apoptosis. Studies characterizing the basic apoptosis signaling machinery have begun to reveal the molecular control of processes that modulate lymphocyte apoptosis.