Apoptosis--the cell's silent exit

Abstract

Apo-ptosis, derived from Greek for 'falling off', can refer to the falling off of leaves during autumn (1), but is currently often used to describe a particular cell behaviour which occurs during development, cell maturation, in response to varying noxious stimuli or in disease. The cells die without causing their neighbours trouble, unlike necrotic cell death which is accompanied by an inflammatory response. In contrast, it is believed that during apoptosis cells neatly package their contents such as DNA, lipids and other biomolecules, and offer them to neighbouring cells which can take up these biomolecules by phagocytosis and use them in a type of environmental-friendly cellular recycling. It is these budding bodies that inspired the name apoptosis.