Obese Genotype Affects the Apoptosis Related Gene Expressions

Apoptosis is a genetically regulated form of cell §death that occurs when the cell is exposed to §physiological, pathogenic, or cytotoxic stimuli. §Unregulated apoptosis at any time from embryogenesis §to adulthood can result in a variety of disease §states, such as neurodegenerative disorders, §autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, liver and §kidney problems, and cancer. A reasonable estimation §is that either too little or too much cell death §contributes to half of the main medical illnesses §for which adequate therapy or prevention is lacking. §The apoptotic pathways can be initiated by reactive §oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory molecules, §both of which are believed to be up-regulated in a §state of obesity. In addition, multiple studies have §shown that the risk of developing cardiovascular §disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic §fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancers §increase with increasing degree of obesity in both §men and women. Despite the well characterized §association of obesity and disease incidence, the §mechanisms by which obesity contributes to disease §pathology are poorly understood.