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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: August 18, 2018
The role of secreted proteins in efferocytosis
Guangsheng Hou1, Xinyu Wang1, Anhua Wang1
1College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
Abstract:
The clearance of apoptotic cells known as efferocytosis is the final stage of apoptosis, and includes the recognition, phagocytosis, and degradation of apoptotic cells. The maintenance of tissue homeostasis requires the daily elimination of billions of apoptotic cells from the human body via the process of efferocytosis. Accordingly, aberrations in efferocytosis underlie a growing list of diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, and infections. During the initial phase of apoptosis, "Eat-Me" signals are exposed and recognized by phagocytes either directly through phagocyte receptors or indirectly through secreted proteins that function as bridge molecules that cross-link dying cells to phagocytes. Here, we set out to provide a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms and biological significance of secreted proteins in apoptotic cell clearance. Specifically, it focuses on how these secreted proteins act as bridging molecules to facilitate the clearance process.
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