The Coming Decade of Cell Death Research: Five Riddles

• Published in: Cell Vol. 177; no. 5; pp. 1094 - 1107
• Main Author: Green, Douglas R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 16.05.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Humans; Pyroptosis - physiology
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.04.024

Active cell death, in its many forms, is a fundamental biological process. Studies over the past several decades have explored the functions and consequences of cellular demise and elucidated several of the key cell death pathways. Here, I pose five questions, or riddles, that might provide a guide to the next decade of cell death research. Focusing mainly on four types of active cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis) mainly in mammals, this Perspective explores the possible research directions that might answer these riddles, or at least prompt new ones. Active cell death, in its many forms, is a fundamental biological process, and its study over the past several decades has provided key insights into the molecular processes, functions, and consequences responsible. Here, I pose five questions, or riddles, that might provide a guide to the next decade of cell death research. Focusing mainly on four types of active cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis) mainly in mammals, this Perspective explores the possible research directions that might answer these riddles, or at least prompt new ones.