[Methods used in the detection of apoptosis]

Abstract

Apoptosis is a physiological form of cell death, whose dysregulation may lead to cancer or to autoimmune and degenerative diseases. In this review article, distinctive biochemical, molecular and morphological features of apoptosis are being discussed, as well as the principles of the elementary detection methods. Apoptosis is characterized by nuclear, plasma membrane, and mitochondrial changes. For reliable detection of apoptosis, it is generally recommended to employ at least two different methods together with microscopic verification of the distinctive morphological alterations.