release of mitochondrial intermembrane space proteins [8],
and caspase-dependent activation and nuclear translocation of a
caspase-activated DNase, resulting in internucleosomal DNA cleavage
[9]. Identification of these morphological and biochemical
markers of apoptosis makes it possible to distinguish it from other
forms of cell death. However, we stress that caspases are also activated
in many settings that are not related to cell death [10], and
that intrinsic apoptosis can also occur in the absence of caspase
activity [2].