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Perspectives

Switch Between Apoptosis and Autophagy: Radiation-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress?

Luigi Moretti, Yong I. Cha, Kenneth John Niermann and Bo Lu

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The induction of cell death by radiation has largely been attributed to pro-apoptotic mechanisms. Autophagy, an alternative form of programmed cell death, has recently been shown to contribute significantly to anti-neoplastic effects of radiation therapy. In light of this, ER stress has been shown to trigger both apoptosis and autophagy, and act as an important mediator linking the two programmed cell death pathways. Recent data reveal that ER stress leads to activation of autophagosome formation with LC3 conversion via either PERK-eIF2α pathway or IRE1-JNK pathway. In this focused review, we summarize the main molecular mediators that control cellular “switches” between apoptosis and autophagy pathways by utilizing radiation therapy as a model.

Authors

Luigi Moretti

Vanderbilt University

Yong I. Cha

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Kenneth John Niermann

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Bo Lu

Vanderbilt University

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If the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.