The term ‘extrinsic apoptosis’ has been extensively used to
indicate instances of apoptotic cell death that are induced by
extracellular stress signals that are sensed and propagated by
specific transmembrane receptors.28–30 Extrinsic apoptosis
can be initiated by the binding of lethal ligands, such as FAS/
CD95 ligand (FASL/CD95L), tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa)
and TNF (ligand) superfamily, member 10 (TNFSF10, best
known as TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand, TRAIL), to
various death receptors (i.e., FAS/CD95, TNFa receptor 1