Role of Sex Hormones in Cytoskeletal Structure: Implications in Cellular Lifespan

Abstract

The cytoskeleton is composed of intracellular structures that maintain cellshape, interconnect organelles to each other, often attached to the cell membrane and isinvolved in signaling pathways. Sex steroids are effective regulators of cellmorphology and recent evidence indicates that it is obtained through the regulation ofthe actin cytoskeleton. Intriguingly, evidence implicates the actin cytoskeleton as botha sensor and mediator of apoptosis. Since it has been shown that sex hormonesaffect/regulate the cellular cytoskeleton, the aim of the present chapter is to discuss themolecular mechanism and targets, related to cytoskeleton, where sex steroids act andmodulate the apoptotic process and in consequence the cellular lifespan.