Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor
Published on: February 1, 2018
Anastasis: Reality or Fiction?
Y S Kim1, K V Kovalskaya1, S L Malov2
1Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
Increased resistance to the apoptosis-inducing stimuli, as well as the reversibility of the process of cell death, are currently recognized as the mechanisms that tumor cells use for survival, maintenance of malignancy, and metastasis. The term "anastasis" was introduced to describe the reversibility of cell death. We have previously shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are resistant to receptor-mediated apoptosis. In this work, the possibility of anastasis in three types of mesenchymal cells (human liver and placental MSCs and skin fibroblasts) was studied after exposure to common cell death inducers ethanol, staurosporine, or doxorubicin. We have shown that restoration of cell morphology and proliferation occurs after treatment with non-lethal doses of ethanol and low concentration of doxorubicin, while staurosporine at non-lethal concentrations produces an irreversible cytostatic effect.
Insights
Tumor cells resist apoptosis and can reverse cell death, a process called anastasis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) showed anastasis after ethanol or doxorubicin treatment, but not staurosporine.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Cancer research
- Stem cell biology
Background:
- Tumor cells evade apoptosis for survival and metastasis.
- Anastasis describes the reversibility of cell death.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit resistance to apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate anastasis in human mesenchymal cells.
- To determine the effect of cell death inducers on anastasis.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of human liver MSCs, placental MSCs, and skin fibroblasts to ethanol, staurosporine, or doxorubicin.
- Observation of cell morphology and proliferation post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Mesenchymal cells demonstrated anastasis upon treatment with non-lethal ethanol doses.
- Low concentrations of doxorubicin also induced reversible cell death (anastasis).
- Non-lethal staurosporine concentrations resulted in irreversible cytostatic effects, not anastasis.
Conclusions:
- Mesenchymal cells can undergo anastasis, reversing cell death under specific conditions.
- The reversibility of cell death is dependent on the inducer and its concentration.
- Anastasis may represent a survival mechanism in mesenchymal cells, distinct from staurosporine-induced cytostasis.
Related Concept Videos
Obedience
Cognitive Dissonance
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Blind Procedures

