Prolonged ER stress can lead to several deleterious effects: - Apoptosis: Chronic ER stress can trigger cell death through the activation of specific signaling pathways. - Inflammation: Persistent ER stress can lead to the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, contributing to chronic inflammation. - Protein Aggregation: Accumulation of misfolded proteins can lead to the formation of aggregates, which are often seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
