sentences:  Generally, the pro-apoptotic function of BAK1 contributes to neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases when overexpressed and cancers when inhibited.For instance, dysregulation of the "BAK" gene has been implicated in human gastrointestinal cancers, indicating that the gene plays a part in the pathogenesis of some cancers.BAK1 is also involved in the HIV replication pathway, as the virus induces apoptosis in T cells via Casp8p41, which activates BAK to carry out membrane permeabilization, leading to cell death.