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.

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...

Overview of Cell Death

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...

Autophagic Cell Death

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Simple and reliable method for predicting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation flow rates and circuit pressures.

Intensive care medicine experimental·2026

Same author

Pure Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Active Jets of Puller Microalgae.

Physical review letters·2025

Same author

[Advancements in Anesthesia and Anesthesia-related Technologies].

Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery·2025

Same author

Physics of microbial taxis and behaviours in response to various physical stimuli.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2025

Same author

Reply to Larsen and Riisgård: Fluid dynamics of choanocyte chambers.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Hydrodynamic confinement of bacteria within intestinal folds.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

Published on: November 27, 2016

Low voltage pulses can induce apoptosis.

Noriaki Matsuki¹, Takuji Ishikawa, Yousuke Imai

¹Department of Bioengineering and Robotics, Tohoku University, 6-6-01, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, 980-8579 Sendai, Japan. matsuki@pfsl.mech.tohoku.ac.jp

|May 28, 2008

Summary

Low voltage electroporation, using pulses below the cell membrane breakdown threshold, effectively induces apoptosis via caspase pathways. This novel method offers a promising anticancer strategy with reduced necrotic cell damage compared to high voltage electroporation.

More Related Videos

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Published on: June 29, 2011

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

Published on: November 27, 2016

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Published on: June 29, 2011

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Oncology

Background:

Electroporation is a widely used technique for gene delivery, drug administration, and cell fusion.
High voltage electroporation is known to induce apoptosis but can also decrease cell survival rates.
Limited research exists on the apoptotic effects of low voltage electric charges on cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the apoptotic properties of consecutive low voltage electroporation pulses.
To determine if low voltage electroporation can induce apoptosis in human cells without significant necrotic damage.
To evaluate low voltage electroporation as a potential anticancer therapy.

Main Methods:

Applying consecutive low voltage electrical pulses to human cells, below the membrane breakdown threshold.
Measuring the cell membrane potential changes induced by low voltage pulses.
Assessing apoptosis induction through caspase pathways.
Quantifying necrotic cell damage.

Main Results:

Consecutive low voltage pulses increased the membrane potential to the threshold required for electroporation.
Low voltage electroporation successfully induced apoptosis via caspase pathways.
Necrotic cell damage was significantly lower compared to high voltage electroporation.

Conclusions:

Low voltage electroporation can effectively induce apoptosis in human cells.
This method presents a potential anticancer treatment with reduced collateral cell damage.
Further research into low voltage electroporation as an anticancer modality is warranted.