Apoptosis is a classical pathological feature in liver diseases caused by various etiological factors such as drugs, viruses, alcohol, and cholestasis. Hepatic apoptosis and its deleterious effects exacerbate liver function as well as involvement in fibrosis/cirrhosis and carcinogenesis. An imbalance between apoptotic and antiapoptotic capabilities is a prominent characteristic of liver injury. The regulation of apoptosis and antiapoptosis can be a pivotal step in the treatment of liver diseases. 1. Apoptosis Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death. Apoptotic cells are characterized by energy-dependent biochemical mechanisms and obvious morphological changes [1, 2]. These features include membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation. The apoptotic process deletes single cell or small clusters of cells without inflammatory response [3]. Apoptotic cells die in a controlled and regulated fashion. This makes apoptosis distinct from other uncontrolled modes of cell death such as necrosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and cornification [4]. Uncontrolled cell death leads to cell lysis, inflammatory response, and serious health problems [5]. Apoptosis is associated with multiple pathophysiological functions. During the embryological stage of mammals, apoptosis is important for the normal development of organs [6]. In adults, apoptosis regulates physiological processes (e.g., removing aged cells) and maintains tissue homeostasis [7]. Dysfunction or dysregulation of the apoptotic program is implicated in a variety of congenital anomalies and pathological conditions such as tumorigenesis, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and others [8]. 2. Hepatic Apoptosis Hepatic apoptosis, as name indicated, means cell suicide in liver. The hepatic apoptosis is different from hepatocyte apoptosis. The hepatocyte apoptosis describes the apoptotic cell death in only hepatocytes (one type of liver cells), but the hepatic apoptosis reflects the interaction of manifold cells in liver and represents a comprehensive outcome of multiple effects. The liver is an organ consisting of several phenotypically distinct cell types, for example, hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, oval cells, and so forth [9]. Predominant hepatocytes make up 70–80% of the liver cells [10]. Hepatocytes manufacture critical circulating proteins, generate bile acid-dependent bile flow, detoxify endo- and xenobiotics, and regulate intermediary metabolism [11]. Hepatocyte injury results
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