Hepatic Apoptosis and Necrosis

Hepatocellular death is a characteristic feature of many different liver diseases such as cholestasis, viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and drug-induced liver injury. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that necrosis and apoptosis are two main patterns of hepatocellular death, acting as the end stage of different liver diseases. Thus, prevention of cell death is an important therapy strategy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which different modes of cell death contribute to the process of liver disease are not fully understood. In this chapter, we will discuss apoptosis and necrosis that play critical roles in the hepatocellular death, then summarize the recent cellular and molecular mechanisms of mode of cell death, which are associated with different liver diseases as well as some relevant therapeutic strategies.