Apoptosis
Apoptosis, a genetically directed process of programmed cell death, is required for the regulation of physiological functions and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. During the process, caspases (cysteinyl aspartate proteinases) break down essential cellular components needed for survival and stimulate production of DNases, destroying DNA in the nucleus of the cell.
As the cell begins to shrink, macrophages remove the shrinking cell and its components, thus preventing damage to other cells. Abnormal apoptosis is involved in a variety of human diseases including neurodegeneration, autoimmune disorders, and many types of cancer. Understanding the processes and learning how to modulate apoptosis may be used in treating these conditions. “Apoptosis is an essential process for normal tissue development and homeostasis by which cells undergo timely programmed cell death.
Aberrations in apoptotic signaling are implicated in a range of human pathologies including cancer, autoimmune disease and neurodegeneration. Induction of apoptosis leads, in most cases, to the activation of caspases (cysteinyl aspartate proteinases) and plasma membrane alterations. The activation of caspase-3 or caspase-7 results in the irreversible commitment of the cell to apoptotic death, and is considered a reliable marker for apoptosis. The regulated loss of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) symmetry is also a classical marker of apoptosis. Dying cells trigger the translocation of the normally inward-facing PS to the cellular surface, allowing for early phagocytic recognition of the dying cell by surrounding phagocytes.
1. Detect apoptosis in real-time by adding the mix-and-read Incucyte Caspase-3/7 and Annexin V Dyes to your cultures
2. Automatically quantify apoptotic cells using intuitive Incucyte® image analysis tools
3. Multiplex apoptosis readouts with measurements of proliferation or cytotoxicity by combining with Incucyte® Nuclight nuclear labeling reagents or Incucyte® Cytotox Dyes” (NIH).