Volker Adams, Stephan Gielen, Rainer Hambrecht, Gerhard Schuler

University Leipzig - Heart Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Methods of detection

3.1. Morphological methods

3.2. Biochemical and molecular methods

4. Occurrence of apoptosis in mature skeletal myocytes

4.1. Skeletal muscle apoptosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
4.2. Skeletal myocyte apoptosis in atrophy due to unloading or motor neuron disorders
4.3. Skeletal myocyte apoptosis in ischemia / reperfusion
4.4. Skeletal myocyte apoptosis in chronic heart failure (CHF)

5. Incidence and significance of apoptosis in skeletal muscle

6. Molecular mechanism for the regulation of the apoptotic process

6.1. Caspases
6.2. Mitochondria and the release of apoptotic regulating substances
6.3. APAF-1
6.4. Bcl-2 familiy
6.5. Nitric oxide

7. Summary and potential implications

8. References

Apoptosis is a physiological, conserved program of cellular suicide, characterized by nuclear condensation, DNA-fragmentation and release of mitochondrial cytochrom c into the cytoplasm. The apoptotic program is executed by a cascade of highly specific caspases. The occurrence and significance of apoptosis in multinucleated, differentiated cells, like skeletal muscle cells is discussed controversy in the current literature. In this review we will summarize the knowledge concerning the occurrence of apotosis in certain diseases and the regulation of apoptosis in skeletal muscle.