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Updated: Oct 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum
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Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum

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Cell death leaves a new TRAIL

Michael Overholtzer1

  • 1Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|October 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) signaling, known to cause apoptosis, also triggers entosis, a cell death mechanism. This discovery reveals a new link in cell death networks with cancer progression implications.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Molecular mechanisms of cell death
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • Cell death is regulated by complex signaling networks.
  • Apoptosis and entosis are distinct cell death pathways.
  • TRAIL is a known inducer of apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel connections within cell death signaling networks.
  • To investigate the role of TRAIL signaling beyond apoptosis.
  • To explore the induction of entosis by TRAIL.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated TRAIL signaling pathways.
  • Analyzed cell death mechanisms induced by TRAIL.
  • Utilized cell biology techniques to observe entosis.

Main Results:

  • TRAIL signaling can induce entosis, a form of cell death.
  • A new cross-regulation between apoptosis and entosis pathways was identified.
  • This finding expands the known functions of TRAIL.

Conclusions:

  • TRAIL signaling has a dual role in inducing both apoptosis and entosis.
  • The interplay between TRAIL-induced apoptosis and entosis impacts cancer progression.
  • This study uncovers a novel mechanism in cell death regulation.

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