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Apoptosis Notes

Apoptosis is a regulated process of programmed cell death essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis by eliminating unnecessary cells without inflammation. It occurs through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways involving various proteins and caspases, leading to cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders or cancer.

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16 views2 pages

Apoptosis Notes

Apoptosis is a regulated process of programmed cell death essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis by eliminating unnecessary cells without inflammation. It occurs through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways involving various proteins and caspases, leading to cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders or cancer.

Uploaded by

tyagirohit977
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death)

Definition:

Apoptosis is a highly regulated and controlled process of programmed cell death that occurs in

multicellular organisms.

It helps maintain tissue homeostasis by removing old, damaged, or unneeded cells without causing

inflammation.

Key Features:

- Energy-dependent process

- Cell shrinkage (not swelling like necrosis)

- Chromatin condensation

- DNA fragmentation

- Membrane blebbing

- Formation of apoptotic bodies, which are cleared by phagocytes

Mechanism:

There are two main pathways:

1. Intrinsic (Mitochondrial) Pathway:

- Triggered by internal signals like DNA damage, oxidative stress

- Involves:

- Bcl-2 family proteins (e.g. Bax, Bak promote apoptosis; Bcl-2 inhibits)

- Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria

- Activation of caspase-9
2. Extrinsic (Death Receptor) Pathway:

- Triggered by external signals

- Involves:

- Death receptors (e.g. Fas, TNF receptor)

- Activation of caspase-8

Both pathways activate executioner caspases (e.g. caspase-3), which cleave cellular proteins and

lead to cell death.

Importance of Apoptosis:

- Normal embryonic development

- Immune system regulation

- Removal of mutated or cancerous cells

- Preventing autoimmunity

Dysregulation Can Cause:

- Too much apoptosis -> Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's)

- Too little apoptosis -> Cancer, autoimmune diseases

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