[Oxidative stress and apoptosis].

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is a process characterized by several morphological, biochemical and molecular events in response to physiological or pathological stimuli, such as gamma radiation. Free radicals being involved in many physiological and pathological processes, the aim of this study is to investigate the literature about the involvement of oxidative pathway during apoptotic process. As reported by several authors, the literature is abundant in this field and show the complexity of the network in which numerous molecules can regulate cell death and proliferation. However, reactive oxygen intermediate species (ROls) seem to play an important role in the induction of apoptosis as underlined by several reports. Regulation of cellular redox status may appear to be a key component which determines cell proliferation or apoptosis.