Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
10:23
Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death
Published on: January 20, 2023
Programmed cell death in autoimmune diseases
1Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
Autoimmunity Reviews
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Regulated cell death (RCD) pathways like apoptosis and necroptosis are crucial in autoimmune diseases (AIDs), acting as both causes and consequences of inflammation. Understanding these interconnected death mechanisms is key for developing targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) involve loss of self-tolerance, tissue stress, and inflammation.
- Regulated cell death (RCD) plays a complex role in AIDs, potentially initiating or resulting from disease processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate causal RCD from associative signatures in AIDs.
- To review the network of RCD pathways (apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis) in autoimmune microenvironments.
- To connect mechanistic insights to translational applications for precision interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on RCD in autoimmune diseases.
- Analysis of evidence distinguishing causal RCD from downstream injury markers.
- Summary of RCD pathway interactions and governing hubs (RIPK1, caspase-8).
Main Results:
- RCD pathways are interconnected and can co-exist as mixed-death states in AIDs.
- Shared triggers (cytokines, PRR ligands, oxidative stress) and decision hubs regulate these pathways.
- Integrated concepts like PANoptosis explain pathway convergence and switching.
Conclusions:
- Distinguishing causal RCD from associative signatures is critical for understanding AIDs.
- Targeted modulation of RCD executors and upstream circuits offers therapeutic potential.
- Further research is needed for spatial, cell-type resolved, and longitudinal validation of RCD programs in AIDs.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Overview of Cell Death
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 20th century...
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 20th century...
01:22Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
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...
01:18Autophagic Cell Death
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 pro-apoptotic...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
01:29Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. This results from an overactive immune response against substances and tissues normally present in the body. Let's delve into the concept and mechanism of autoimmune diseases from an immune system point of view, explore different causes and examples of such diseases, and discuss potential solutions.
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
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...
01:31The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...