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Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis01:30

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.
Autoimmune Disorders01:29

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. This results from an overactive immune response against substances and tissues normally present in the body. Let's delve into the concept and mechanism of autoimmune diseases from an immune system point of view, explore different causes and examples of such diseases, and discuss potential solutions.
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

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...
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.
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...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Experimental Analysis of Apoptotic Thymocyte Engulfment by Macrophages
06:47

Experimental Analysis of Apoptotic Thymocyte Engulfment by Macrophages

Published on: May 24, 2019

Apoptosis and autoimmune diseases.

Shigekazu Nagata1

  • 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Yoshida, Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan. snagata@mfour.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|October 21, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Billions of cells die daily to remove harmful ones. Defects in cell death or clearance processes can lead to autoimmune diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cellular homeostasis relies on regulated cell death and efficient clearance of dead cells.
  • The body eliminates billions of senescent, damaged, or harmful cells daily through programmed cell death and subsequent phagocytosis.
  • Dysregulation in these processes is implicated in various pathologies, particularly autoimmunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the intricate mechanisms of cell death and dead-cell clearance.
  • To explore the consequences of defects in these fundamental biological processes.
  • To discuss the link between impaired cell death/clearance and the development of autoimmune diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cell death pathways and phagocytosis.

More Related Videos

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

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

Published on: December 27, 2016

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity
12:17

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Published on: August 12, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Experimental Analysis of Apoptotic Thymocyte Engulfment by Macrophages
06:47

Experimental Analysis of Apoptotic Thymocyte Engulfment by Macrophages

Published on: May 24, 2019

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

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

Published on: December 27, 2016

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity
12:17

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Published on: August 12, 2018

  • Analysis of data from genetically modified mouse models deficient in cell death or clearance.
  • Examination of clinical data from human patients with mutations affecting these processes.

    • Main Results:

    • Cell death involves the activation of specific cellular machinery.
    • Dead cells are cleared by phagocytes and degraded within lysosomes.
    • Deficiencies in either cell death or clearance mechanisms in mice and humans are associated with the onset of autoimmunity.

    Conclusions:

    • Proper execution of cell death and subsequent clearance is critical for maintaining immune tolerance.
    • Failures in these processes can trigger autoimmune responses.
    • Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into preventing and treating autoimmune disorders.