Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity
Published on: August 12, 2018
Time between onset of apoptosis and release of nucleosomes from apoptotic cells: putative implications for systemic
A E M van Nieuwenhuijze1, T van Lopik, R J T Smeenk
1Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research at CLB University of Amsterdam, 1006 AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
To investigate the kinetics of nucleosome leakage from apoptotic cells in an in vitro system and extrapolate the results to autoimmune disease, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus.
Methods:
A sensitive nucleosome enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed, using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against histone 3 and an mAb against nucleosomes. Nucleosome release during apoptotic cell death was studied in Jurkat cells. AnnexinV binding (early apoptosis) and propidium iodide positivity (late apoptosis) of the cells were compared with nucleosome release at different times after apoptosis induction.
Results:
Nucleosomes appeared in culture supernatant of Jurkat cells 24 to 48 hours after apoptosis induction, when the cells had been late apoptotic for more than 12 hours.
Conclusion:
Nucleosomes are released from late apoptotic Jurkat cells, with a 12 hour delay from the appearance of AnnexinV binding cells. This result suggests that in vivo scavenger mechanisms have 12 hours to remove apoptotic material from the circulation.
Related Concept Videos
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Apoptosis
Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Caspases
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
