What is macrophages apoptosis?

Macrophages become foam cells by ingesting lipoproteins and storing these lipids in droplets. The engorged foam cells secrete a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and then eventually undergo apoptosis. Rapid efferocytic clearance of the apoptotic cells leads to suppression of the proinflammatory response.

What does inducing apoptosis mean?

Viral induction of apoptosis occurs when one or several cells of a living organism are infected with a virus, leading to cell death. Cell death in organisms is necessary for the normal development of cells and the cell cycle maturation. It is also important in maintaining the regular functions and activities of cells.

What are apoptotic blebs?

Apoptotic Function Blebbing is one of the defined features of apoptosis. During apoptosis (programmed cell death), the cell’s cytoskeleton breaks up and causes the membrane to bulge outward. These bulges may separate from the cell, taking a portion of cytoplasm with them, to become known as apoptotic blebs.

What causes neuronal apoptosis?

Neuronal apoptosis represents an intrinsic suicide program by which a neuron orchestrates its own destruction. During normal nervous system development, physiologically appropriate neuronal loss contributes to a sculpting process that removes approximately one-half of all neurons born during neurogenesis.

What is apoptosis in cells?

Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death. It is used during early development to eliminate unwanted cells; for example, those between the fingers of a developing hand. In adults, apoptosis is used to rid the body of cells that have been damaged beyond repair. Apoptosis also plays a role in preventing cancer.

Why is apoptosis called programmed cell death?

If cells are no longer needed, they commit suicide by activating an intracellular death program. This process is therefore called programmed cell death, although it is more commonly called apoptosis (from a Greek word meaning “falling off,” as leaves from a tree).

Why are blebs formed in apoptosis?

Blebs are formed when the plasma membrane delaminates from the cortical cytoskeletal network to form blisters that are expanded by increased hydrostatic pressure produced by actomyosin-mediated cellular contraction. As apoptosis progresses, blebs may break away from the cell body to form membrane-clad apoptotic bodies.

What does neuronal loss mean?

Neurodegeneration is the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, which may ultimately involve cell death.

What causes neuronal loss?

Later in life, inappropriate neuronal cell death may result from pathological causes such as traumatic injury, environmental toxins, cardiovascular disorders, infectious agents, or genetic diseases. In some cases, the death occurs through apoptosis.

What does apoptosis mean in biology?

Which histologic findings are characteristic of apoptosis?

On histologic examination with hematoxylin and eosin stain, apoptosis involves single cells or small clusters of cells. The apoptotic cell appears as a round or oval mass with dark eosinophilic cytoplasm and dense purple nuclear chromatin fragments (Figure 1). Electron microscopy can better define the subcellular changes.

What is the difference between cell shrinkage and apoptosis?

With cell shrinkage, the cells are smaller in size, the cytoplasm is dense and the organelles are more tightly packed. Pyknosis is the result of chromatin condensation and this is the most characteristic feature of apoptosis. On histologic examination with hematoxylin and eosin stain, apoptosis involves single cells or small clusters of cells.

How is homoeostasis regulated by apoptosis?

This normal homoeostasis is not just a passive process but regulated through apoptosis. The same mechanisms serve to “mop up” damaged cells. With ageing, apoptotic responses to DNA damage may be less tightly controlled and exaggerated, contributing to degenerative disease.