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Updated: May 11, 2026
05:30
Live-cell Imaging of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization During Necroptosis
Published on: November 14, 2025
Apoptosis and necrosis in the liver
Maria Eugenia Guicciardi1, Harmeet Malhi, Justin L Mott
11Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Comprehensive Physiology
|May 31, 2013
Summary
Liver injury involves cell death, primarily apoptosis, a regulated process crucial for homeostasis. Therapeutic modulation of liver cell death pathways shows promise for treating liver diseases.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Cell Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- The liver's unique function and location expose it to toxins, drugs, alcohol, and viruses, leading to susceptibility to injury.
- Cell death in the liver occurs mainly via apoptosis (programmed cell death) or necrosis (unregulated injury).
- Hepatocytes and cholangiocytes are prone to death receptor-mediated apoptosis, involving mitochondrial and lysosomal pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of liver cell death mechanisms.
- To discuss the role of apoptosis and necrosis in liver injury.
- To explore the potential for therapeutic modulation of liver cell death.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on liver cell death pathways.
- Discussion of apoptosis, necrosis, and necroptosis in the context of liver disease.
- Analysis of signaling pathways involved in hepatocyte apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Apoptosis is a key physiologic and pathologic process in the liver, involving mitochondrial and lysosomal permeabilization.
- Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria signaling contributes to hepatocyte apoptosis in metabolic syndrome.
- Necrosis, particularly programmed necroptosis, is less understood in liver diseases, with minimal expression of key players suggesting it may be uncommon.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis is a central mechanism in many liver diseases, making its therapeutic modulation a promising strategy.
- Understanding diverse cell death pathways is crucial for developing effective liver disease treatments.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of necroptosis in liver pathology.
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