What role does apoptosis play in progression of renal disease?

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is now recognized to play an important role in regulating the number of renal cells in health and disease. Apoptosis may mediate beneficial deletion both of leukocytes and of excess resident cells from the inflamed glomerulus. However, this review focuses on the growing evidence that inappropriate engagement of the cell death 'program' contributes to the progression of renal diseases such as polycystic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis, mediating the loss of 'desirable' cells and eventual development of the hypocellular end-stage kidney.