Participación de la apoptosis en los procesos inmunológicos / Participation of apoptosis in immunologic processes

Apoptosis is a biological process that leads certain cells to die in a controlled fashion. Its biochemical manifestation is DNA fragmentation due to the action of an endonuclease and morphological consequences is the formation of apoptic bodies, seen with lught or electron microscopy. Apoptosis is universally important in embryogenesis and morphologenesis of all tissues. Lately, a fundamental role of apoptosis in the physiology and physiopathology of immunological events has been uncovered. This review details the role of apoptosis in the development of auto-tolerance, immunological memory and AIDS pathogenesis