An introduction to death receptors in apoptosis.

Apoptosis is a source of much research interest across many fields, including developmental biology, immunology and oncology. As the exact pathways of this process are identified, so too are potential avenues for therapeutic application. Death receptors are important in inducing apoptosis and together with their ligands have become a source of attention as potential therapeutic agents. This review provides an introduction to the role of death receptors in apoptosis, together with a look at possible areas where this information may be applied therapeutically.