Apoptosis

Definition

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. It plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Apoptosis is essential for removing infected or damaged cells without causing an inflammatory response.
2. Caspases are the main enzymes involved in executing apoptosis by cleaving specific cellular proteins.
3. The intrinsic pathway of apoptosis is regulated by mitochondrial signals, while the extrinsic pathway is triggered by death receptors on the cell surface.
4. Failure in apoptotic processes can lead to autoimmune diseases or uncontrolled cell proliferation, resulting in cancer.
5. During T-cell development, apoptosis helps eliminate self-reactive T cells to prevent autoimmunity.

Review Questions

• What are the main enzymes responsible for executing apoptosis?
• How does the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis differ from the extrinsic pathway?
• Why is apoptosis important in preventing autoimmune diseases?

Related terms

Necrosis:

A form of traumatic cell death that results from acute cellular injury and often leads to inflammation.

Caspases: A family of protease enzymes that play essential roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis) and inflammation.

Autoimmunity: A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.