Inflammation does not occur. Too much cell death can be a problem. A drug called Lexirin is now being tested to determine whether by inhibiting apoptosis the body can repair the intestinal cell damage which causes AIDs diarrhea. In contrast, too little cell death can lead to cancer and sustained viral infection. Some tumors cause apoptosis in T-lymphocytes thus preventing the immune system from rejecting them.
Genes control the process.
The process is not new in evolution. It is present all the way from earthworms and fruit flies to man. Apoptosis research continues and includes developmental biology, cancer research, genetics, immunology, and toxicology. Discovered 25 years ago by Sir Alastair Currie, apoptosis lay dormant and attracted little attention until five years ago. Now it appears programmed cell death has come to life.