Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Assessment of Cell Death: Apoptosis,
Necrosis, or In Between
Thomas Genetta , Ling Wei , and Shan Ping Yu
Abstract
Cell death and cell survival are the fundamental events in development and pathological conditions associated
with virtually all disorders in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Assessment of cell death and identifi cation of the type of cell death are critical for understanding the
mechanism of the injury and for development of therapeutic treatment of diseases. Recent development in
cellular and molecular biological discoveries has allowed better characterization of different cell death
including necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagic death and development of numerous cell death assays. This
chapter intends to introduce some common characteristics of different types of cell death and the most
basic principle of assessments. Emerging evidence also show that sometimes it is diffi cult to separate different
cell death mechanisms, and mixed cell death often is observed under in vivo situation. We hope the content
of this chapter will help readers to better understand and develop novel ideas of cell death in diseases.
Key words:
Apoptosis, Necrosis, Autophagy, Mixed cell death, Cell death assays
1. Introduction
Ischemic brain damage is caused by the disruption of blood fl ow in
cerebral circulation, often occurring inside of the middle cerebral
artery. Following a severe ischemic attack, the core region of tissue
rapidly succumbs to cell death via necrosis; this region is surrounded
by a layer of at-risk but salvageable tissue—the penumbra—in
which regulated cell death, mainly in the form of apoptosis, predomi-
nates. The mechanisms of brain cell death have been extensively
investigated in the last 15 years and, accordingly, our understanding
of signaling pathways underlying ischemic injury has been improved
signifi cantly.
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