APOPTOTIC DEATH Meaning and
Definition
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Apoptotic death, also known as apoptosis, refers to a controlled and programmed form of cell death that occurs naturally in multicellular organisms. It is a crucial process for maintaining tissue homeostasis, development, and normal growth, as well as eliminating damaged or unwanted cells from the body. The word "apoptosis" is derived from the Greek words "apo," meaning away from, and "ptosis," meaning falling, reflecting the characteristic cell shrinking and fragmentation observed during this process.
Apoptotic death is initiated through intracellular signaling pathways triggered by various internal and external stimuli. These stimuli may include cellular stress, DNA damage, viral infection, or developmental cues. The signaling cascades involved in apoptosis typically activate an intricate network of enzymes known as caspases, which play a fundamental role in orchestrating the orderly dismantling of the cell.
During apoptotic death, the cell undergoes distinct morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, membrane blebbing, and fragmentation of the nucleus and cytoplasm. The apoptotic cell then forms membrane-bound vesicles called apoptotic bodies, which are engulfed and cleared by other cells or phagocytes, preventing the release of potentially harmful cellular contents.
Dysregulation of apoptotic death can give rise to various diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders, and developmental abnormalities. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in apoptosis has important implications for therapeutic interventions, such as developing strategies to induce apoptosis in cancer cells or inhibiting excessive cell death in conditions such as ischemic stroke or neurodegenerative diseases.
Common Misspellings for APOPTOTIC DEATH
- zpoptotic death
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Etymology of APOPTOTIC DEATH
The word "apoptotic" comes from the Greek word "apoptōsis" (ἀπόπτωσις), which means "falling off" or "dropping off". "Apoptōsis" is derived from the verb "apopteínō" (ἀποπτείνω), meaning "I fall off" or "I drop off". In 1972, Kerr, Wyllie, and Currie first used the term "apoptosis" to describe a distinct type of programmed cell death characterized by cellular shrinkage and fragmentation. Over time, the term "apoptotic death" has been used to refer to the process of programmed cell death through apoptosis.
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