As apoptosis is considered to be a regulated and controlled process, its occurrence during particular infectious processes has received great attention.Ī number of pathogens have been described to cause host cell death with features of apoptosis (for reviews, see references 37, 42, 92, and 138). Necrosis has been characterized as passive, accidental cell death resulting from environmental perturbations with uncontrolled release of inflammatory cellular contents. Apoptosis is described as an active, programmed process of autonomous cellular dismantling that avoids eliciting inflammation. Additionally, studies regarding the processes leading to pathogen-induced cell death are likely to shed light on the mechanisms of cell death occurring during other physiological and pathological processes.Ĭell death is typically discussed dichotomously as either apoptosis or necrosis. Furthermore, the mechanism of cell death may have significant consequences in terms of the ensuing response to the dead cell by modulating inflammation or influencing the immune response ( 1, 112). Understanding the process of dying may reveal why certain cells may be more or less susceptible to pathogen-induced cell death and reveal novel therapeutic targets. Elucidating the factors required by a pathogen to kill host cells is, therefore, critical to uncovering mechanisms of pathogenesis. Pathogen-induced cell death, a seemingly simple outcome, may occur by a variety of complex mechanisms. Although some intracellular pathogens may employ strategies to prevent cell death during pathogen replication, escape and dissemination to new host cells may eventually require cell lysis. Microbial pathogens may improve their ability to persist in infected hosts by causing the death of cells required for host defense ( 147). Host cell death may impair normal organ function and lead to associated signs and symptoms of disease. The study of pathogen-induced host cell death has gained attention with the recognition that this phenomenon may not be merely an incidental finding during infection but, rather, a controlled and modifiable process with significant implications for disease pathogenesis ( 37). Perhaps the most obvious potential outcome of host-pathogen interactions is the death of host cells, and this has long been known to result from infection ( 49). SIGNIFICANCE OF HOST CELL DEATH IN INFECTION
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