Mechanisms of cell death.

There is increasing evidence that the mechanisms of chemically mediated cell death are common to a wide variety of cell types and to a large number of toxic compounds. The perturbation of Ca2+ homeostasis appears to be particularly important and may be due to modification of SH-groups in key enzymes. Donald Davies and colleagues discuss the mechanisms by which early events induced by exposure to toxic chemicals may lead to these changes, and their possible consequences. It is now clear that reduced glutathione plays a pivotal role, not only in detoxifying reactive compounds but also in reversing the early biochemical changes in the cell.