Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Proteome organ aging and cardiometabolic risk in a population at risk for heart failure.

Cardiovascular diabetology·2025

Same author

MHC class II presentation of FVIII-AnnexinA5 fusion proteins internalized by antigen presenting cells.

Frontiers in immunology·2025

Same author

Analysis of myeloid neoplasms with isolated trisomy 19 reveals a novel MDS subgroup characterized by the presence of ring sideroblasts, fibrosis and SRSF2 and/or ASXL1 mutations.

Journal of hematopathology·2025

Same author

Venetoclax plus hypomethylating agents as a bridge to transplant or donor lymphocyte infusion in relapsed/ refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

Haematologica·2025

Same author

A phase I trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenously administered low-anticoagulant heparin (M6229) in critically ill sepsis patients.

Intensive care medicine experimental·2025

Same author

Potential and value of rescuing dying neurons.

Neural regeneration research·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

Imaging apoptosis for detecting plaque instability: rendering death a brighter facade.

Maarten F Corsten¹, Chris P M Reutelingsperger, Leonard Hofstra

¹Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University and Maastricht University Hospital, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

|February 6, 2007

Summary

Detecting apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques is crucial for assessing vulnerability. Imaging apoptosis offers a non-invasive method to identify plaque instability and guide new treatments.

More Related Videos

Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Published on: January 13, 2012

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Published on: January 3, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization

Published on: January 13, 2012

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Published on: January 3, 2025

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Research
Molecular Imaging
Cell Biology

Background:

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture risk poorly correlates with luminal obstruction, necessitating methods to detect plaque destabilization.
Apoptosis and inflammation are key indicators of plaque instability, influencing necrotic core size, vascular remodeling, and fibrous cap integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the importance of in vivo detection of processes underlying atherosclerotic plaque destabilization.
To emphasize the role of apoptosis in plaque vulnerability and the potential of imaging apoptotic cells for clinical assessment.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on atherosclerotic plaque rupture and instability markers.
Discussion of apoptosis's role in plaque pathogenesis, including macrophage and smooth muscle cell apoptosis.
Exploration of annexin A5 imaging as a tool for non-invasive assessment of cell death in plaques.

Main Results:

Apoptotic macrophage death contributes to necrotic core expansion and positive vascular remodeling.
Smooth muscle cell apoptosis leads to fibrous cap attenuation, increasing rupture risk.
Annexin A5 imaging presents a viable strategy for detecting apoptotic cells in vivo.

Conclusions:

Non-invasive clinical detection of apoptosis can significantly enhance the assessment of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.
Targeting apoptosis may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for preventing plaque rupture and cardiovascular events.