Role of T cell death in maintaining immune tolerance during persistent viral hepatitis

Figure 5 Intrinsic pathway. Death stimulation up regulates Bcl-2 interacting mediator leading to the separation from Bcl-2, favoring the activation of Bax, Bak, which form pores in the mitochondrial membrane leading to release of cytochrome c. Cytochrome c with Apaf-1 and procaspase 9 participate in the formation of apoptosome, which activate caspase 9. Caspase-9 activates caspase 3 after cleavage of pro-caspase-3. That caspase-3 triggers to induction of caspase cascade and cell death. Apaf-1: Apoptosis protease-activating factor-1. Bim: Bcl-2 interacting mediator.