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Neuronal Death Mechanisms in Development and Disease

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Cell Death

Abstract

In this chapter we cover several distinct aspects of neuronal cell death. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is incredibly important for shaping a properly organized nervous system during development. However, unlike most other cell types, neurons must survive for the lifetime of the organism and therefore possess multiple, unique ways to tightly regulate cell death pathways. Neurons employ several distinct “brakes” within the apoptotic pathway to prevent unwanted cell loss and utilize signaling pathways mediated by dependence receptors and the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor to fine-tune survival and death outcomes during development. In addition, neurons undergo dynamic changes to restrict the apoptotic pathway as they mature and become fully integrated into the adult nervous system. Interestingly, several components of cell death machinery also have critical nonapoptotic roles in neurons, such as modulating synaptic plasticity or mediating neurite pruning to ensure the establishment of precise neuronal circuitry. Lastly, we provide a broad overview of the complex and multiple cell death mechanisms seen in neurons after injury and in neurodegenerative diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiology Curriculum, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Corey L. Cusack & Ryan P. Annis

  2. Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Adam J. Kole M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology Curriculum, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Mohanish Deshmukh Ph.D.

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  1. Corey L. Cusack
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  4. Mohanish Deshmukh Ph.D.
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  1. Dept. of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Hao Wu

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Cusack, C.L., Annis, R.P., Kole, A.J., Deshmukh, M. (2014). Neuronal Death Mechanisms in Development and Disease. In: Wu, H. (eds) Cell Death. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9302-0_8

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