**8. Conclusion**

Apoptosis is involved in various diseases, and affects a wide variety of organs including the liver, kidney, central nervous system, and heart. This field of research has been increasingly active in both basic medical sciences and clinical levels, and in the future, when novel findings are obtained on how changes in the process of apoptosis lead to aggravation or improvement of diseases, an innovative strategy for more effective therapy will be designed. Progress of elucidation of apoptotic process is greatly sought after.
