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Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

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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...
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Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

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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...
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Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis01:16

Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis

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Necrosis is a form of irreversible cell death caused by severe injury such as ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Unlike programmed cell death, it is an uncontrolled, pathological process that typically provokes inflammation in surrounding tissues.Pathophysiologic ChangesNecrosis begins when cells sustain critical damage, leading to swelling of organelles, particularly mitochondria, and rapid ATP depletion. As energy levels decline, membrane ion pumps fail, leading to calcium influx and eventually,...
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Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

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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...
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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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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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Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

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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...
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Updated: May 6, 2026

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

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Possible causes of apoptotic volume decrease: an attempt at quantitative review.

Michael A Model1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
|November 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell shrinkage during apoptosis is complex. While ion and solute loss are key, other factors like water movement and apoptotic body dissociation also contribute to volume reduction.

Keywords:
apoptosisapoptotic volume decreasecell volume regulationintracellular water

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Modified Annexin V/Propidium Iodide Apoptosis Assay For Accurate Assessment of Cell Death
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Modified Annexin V/Propidium Iodide Apoptosis Assay For Accurate Assessment of Cell Death
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Modified Annexin V/Propidium Iodide Apoptosis Assay For Accurate Assessment of Cell Death

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Apoptosis involves significant cell shrinkage and dehydration.
  • Cell volume loss is traditionally attributed to ion and solute efflux.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reexamine the mechanisms driving cell volume reduction during apoptosis.
  • To explore additional contributing factors beyond ion efflux.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ion concentrations and osmotic equilibrium requirements.
  • Discussion of theoretical impacts of various cellular processes.

Main Results:

  • Ion loss or cytosolic acidification can theoretically reduce cell volume by 15-20%.
  • The actual contribution of these mechanisms may be less significant in vivo.
  • Water pool heterogeneity and apoptotic body dissociation are other potential volume-regulating factors.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptotic cell shrinkage is multifactorial, involving ion/solute efflux, pH changes, water dynamics, and apoptotic body formation.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the roles of water pools and apoptotic body dissociation.