"The Cell Death Signaling Pathway" (scientific paper)

The Cell Death Signaling Pathway describes how cells intentionally trigger their own death when necessary, such as to maintain healthy tissue or eliminate damaged cells. This process involves a series of molecular signals that activate specific proteins, leading to controlled breakdown of cell components. There are two main types: apoptosis (programmed, tidy cell death) and necrosis (often due to injury). Proper regulation of this pathway is essential for health, preventing diseases like cancer (where cell death is too little) or neurodegeneration (where it is too much). Understanding this pathway helps develop treatments for various medical conditions.