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Morphologic criteria and detection of apoptosis
1Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, Finland. antti.saraste@utu.fi
Herz
|July 21, 1999
Summary
Apoptosis is programmed cell death with distinct features, often studied using the TUNEL assay. Caspase activation is key to apoptosis, offering potential therapeutic targets in cardiac diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Apoptosis is an organized, energy-dependent process of programmed cell death.
- Key features include chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies.
- Distinguished from oncosis (ischemic cell death) by energy dependence and lack of inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define apoptosis and its diagnostic methods.
- To address limitations of the TUNEL assay in detecting apoptosis.
- To explore the role of apoptosis in cardiac diseases and potential therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Morphological assessment of apoptotic features.
- TUNEL assay for detecting DNA strand breaks.
- Electron microscopy for ultrastructural analysis.
- Caspase activation assays.
Main Results:
- TUNEL assay can be prone to false positives/negatives; standardization is crucial.
- Apoptotic cardiomyocytes and DNA fragmentation correlate with cardiac diseases.
- Caspase activation precedes DNA degradation and morphological changes in apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Standardized TUNEL assay and morphological evaluation are vital for reliable apoptosis detection.
- Caspase activation is a critical early event in apoptosis.
- Targeting caspases may offer a therapeutic approach for apoptotic cell death in cardiac conditions.