Apoptosis is programmed, regulated cell death. Unlike necrosis (traumatic cell death), apoptosis is a controlled process that minimizes inflammation and clears cells cleanly. The cell shrinks, fragments, and is engulfed by phagocytes.
Key Functions
- •Development — sculpting tissues (e.g., webbing between fingers)
- •Homeostasis — removing damaged, infected, or senescent cells
- •Senolytics — induce apoptosis preferentially in senescent cells
In ONDA Life
The Senolytic article explains how senolytic compounds trigger apoptosis in "zombie" cells.