[A Review] The process of apoptosis is very complex.Apoptosis-inducing factor(AIF)has the ability to induce apoptosis via a caspase-independent pathway.The mature AIF protein,a flavoprotein(prosthetic group:flavine adenine dinucleotide)is normally confined to the mitochondrial intermembrane space.AIF translocates through the outer mitochondrial membrane to the cytosol and to the nucleus.AIF induces nuclear chromatin condensation,as well as large scale(V50 kb)DNA fragmentation.AIF is a phyloge-netically old,bifunctional protein with an electron acceptor/donor(oxidoreductase)function and a second apoptogenic function and AIF acts in a caspase-independent fashion.The molecular mechanisms via which AIF induces apoptosis are discussed in this review.
SUMMARY Left ventricular noncompaction(LVNC)is a rare congenital disorder of endomyocardial morphogenesis.Since the knowledge of aetiology and pathology is accumulating,the 2006 AHA cardiomyopathy classification sorts LVNC as one of the primary genetic cardiomyopathies.The clinical features of LVNC,however,is not as clear as its aetiology.We summarized the manifestation,hemodynamics,natural course,diagnosis,therapy and prognosis of LVNC by analyzing its clinical features of 2 cases and reviewing the latest related articles.
