Mechanism Of The Clearance Of Apoptotic Cells By Macrophages

BackgroundApoptosis is derived from the Greek word that signifies the dropping of leaves from the trees. Apoptosis is referring to a process of cell death, which is activated in response to a variety of external or internal stimuli. This process of cell death has been termed also programmed cell death (PCD), which is an important mechanism in both development and homeostasis in adult tissues for the removal of either superfluous, infected, transformed or damaged cells by activation of an intrinsic suicide program. Apoptosis is characterized by maintenance of intact cell membranes during the suicide process so as to allow adjacent phagocytes to engulf the dying cells so that it does not release its contents and trigger a local inflammatory reaction. In normal conditions, efficient phagocytosis by phagocytes is the fate of apoptotic cells. Otherwise, apoptotic cells will undergo the second necrosis, which release its intercellular debris ultimately leading to inflammation or inappropriate autoimmune responses.The recognition and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by phagocytes require the...