Glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis is associated with endogenous endonuclease activation (original) (raw)

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• Published: 10 April 1980

Nature volume 284, pages 555–556 (1980)Cite this article

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Abstract

In near-physiological concentrations, glucocorticoid hormones cause the death of several types of normal and neoplastic lymphoid cell, but the mechanisms involved are unknown1,2. One of the earliest structural changes in the dying cell is widespread chromatin condensation, of the type characteristic of apoptosis, the mode of death frequently observed where cell deletion seems to be ‘programmed’3,4. It is shown here that this morphological change is closely associated with excision of nucleosome chains from nuclear chromatin, apparently through activation of an intracellular, but non-lysosomal, endonuclease.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Pathology, University Medical School Buildings, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK
   A. H. Wyllie

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1. A. H. Wyllie
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Wyllie, A. Glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis is associated with endogenous endonuclease activation.Nature 284, 555–556 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/284555a0

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• Received: 12 November 1979
• Accepted: 28 February 1980
• Issue Date: 10 April 1980
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/284555a0

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