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Related Concept Videos

Autophagic Cell Death01:18

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...
Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Overview of Cell Death01:30

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...
Necrosis01:16

Necrosis

Necrosis is considered as an “accidental” or unexpected form of cell death that ends in cell lysis. The first noticeable mention of “necrosis” was in 1859 when Rudolf Virchow used this term to describe advanced tissue breakdown in his compilation titled “Cell Pathology”.
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...

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Optic Nerve Transection: A Model of Adult Neuron Apoptosis in the Central Nervous System
12:06

Optic Nerve Transection: A Model of Adult Neuron Apoptosis in the Central Nervous System

Published on: May 12, 2011

Autophagic neuron death.

Yasuo Uchiyama1, Masato Koike, Masahiro Shibata

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Methods in Enzymology
|February 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular process, is crucial for neuron health. However, excessive autophagy can paradoxically lead to neuron death, particularly after brain injury, revealing a complex role in neurodegeneration.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Neurons possess abundant lysosomes for degrading cellular waste via macroautophagy (autophagy).
  • Autophagy is vital for maintaining neuronal metabolism and homeostasis.
  • Deficiency in autophagy genes (Atg7, Atg5) in the central nervous system (CNS) leads to neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dual role of autophagy in neuronal survival and death.
  • To explore the mechanisms of autophagic neuron death, especially following hypoxic/ischemic (H/I) brain injury.
  • To introduce methods for detecting autophagic neuron death.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Atg7 and Atg5 deficient mice in CNS tissue.
  • Induction of autophagy via loss of lysosomal proteinases or H/I brain injury.
  • Observation of neuronal death modes, including autophagic neuron death.

Main Results:

  • While autophagy is generally neuroprotective, its excessive induction after H/I injury can cause neurodegeneration.
  • H/I injury-induced pyramidal neuron death in the neonatal hippocampus is prevented by Atg7 deficiency, indicating autophagic neuron death.
  • Lysosomal dysfunction and accumulation of undigested materials exacerbate autophagosome formation.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy plays a complex, context-dependent role in neuronal fate, capable of both protection and death.
  • Autophagic neuron death is a significant mode of neuronal demise following brain injury.
  • Further research is needed to understand and target autophagic neuron death pathways.