Apoptotic cell death in renal disease

There is increasing evidence that apoptotic is an integral part of the normal functioning of the kidney and other organs. Derangements in its regulation, as a hypothesis, may result in renal disease. The apoptotic rate of renal cells might be abnormally increased in nephropathies characterized by cell death or cell depletion such as acute tubular necrosis, acute rejection, necrotizing glomerulonephritis or renal atrophy, and decreased whenever there is an abnormal accumulation of cells, such as during proliferative glomerulonephritis, polycystic renal disease, renal fibrosis and neoplasias.