Apoptotic pathways upon arsenite treatment

Abstract

Apoptosis is considered to be an essential ongoing normal event in multicellular organisms. Deregulation of apoptosis is induced by a variety of toxicants, including many of the toxic metals, resulting in aberrant proliferation or eradication of affected cell populations. Arsenic has been recognized as both a toxicant and a therapeutic agent for centuries. Extensive attention has been given to the elucidation of the mechanisms by which arsenite induces cellular apoptotic responses on treated cells. In this chapter, we mainly summarize the mechanisms that are responsible for regulating cellular apoptotic effect, including regulating intracellular oxidative stress, induction of various transcription factors, and activating apoptotic signaling pathways following arsenite treatment. It's expected that readers could obtain essential information about the mode of action for arsenic in regulating apoptotic events, which could underlie its double-edged function in both therapeutic application and toxicity.