[Apoptosis]

Apoptosis is a special form of cell death morphologically characterized by a pronounced cell shrinkage with subsequent fragmentation into the apoptotic bodies surrounded by a membrane and phagocyted by macrophages without inflammatory reaction. Apoptosis (a programmed or physiological cell death) plays an important role in embryo-genesis, organ involution, ageing, but may arise in pathology when genetic apparatus of the cell is damaged: radiation, viral infection, carcinogenesis. The level of apoptosis predetermines tumor progression, onset and course of viral diseases. Apoptosis maintains constant cell number in the organs and removes cells either damaged or finished their life cycle. Classification of the apoptosis assense may promote the solution of the problem of life span prolongation.