Apoptosis and Autoimmunity: From Mechanisms to Treatments

Apoptosis and autoimmunity are hot topics in cell biology and immunology and interrelations between the two phenomena were reflected in the lectures given at the centenary celebrations of the Nobel Prize in 2001. Animal models and clinical observations indicate that the defective execution of apoptosis or defective clearance of apoptotic cells may cause severe dysfunctions, resulting in such autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. This is the first book to provide a concise insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of regular and misdirected apoptosis as well as its implications for the development of autoimmune diseases. Researchers and clinicians alike will appreciate the perspectives on new strategies in diagnostics and therapy. The text is rounded off by a glossary explaining over 100 related terms, many of them precisely defined here for the first time.