Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
12:55

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

An overview of apoptosis

R C Budd1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405-0068, USA.

Coronary Artery Disease
|February 11, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is a vital cellular process. Understanding apoptosis is crucial for rethinking diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The concept of programmed cell death (apoptosis) has emerged as a significant area of research.
  • Initial interest surged with the discovery of cell death genes in round worms.
  • Apoptosis plays a critical role in understanding various disease processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the historical development of the apoptosis paradigm.
  • To describe and compare common assays for measuring apoptosis.
  • To explore the therapeutic manipulation of apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and historical overview.
  • Description and comparison of established apoptosis assays.
  • Discussion of apoptosis initiation and signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis is now recognized as an active, regulated cellular process.
  • Various assays exist for quantifying apoptosis, each with specific applications.
  • Understanding apoptosis signaling pathways opens avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the importance of apoptosis in normal physiology and disease.
  • Therapeutic strategies targeting apoptosis hold promise for treating conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases.
  • Further research into apoptosis mechanisms can lead to novel treatment modalities.

More Related Videos

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor20:16

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor

Published on: February 1, 2018

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity12:17

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Published on: August 12, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview 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...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The 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...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The 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...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular 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...