programmed cell death
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A biological process of controlled cellular self-destruction: "Programmed cell death" refers to a genetically regulated, deliberate process by which a cell activates an internal mechanism to cause its own orderly death. It is a crucial mechanism for development, tissue homeostasis, and defense.
Usage
- The term "programmed cell death" is used primarily in biological and medical contexts to describe a fundamental, intentional cellular process. It is a formal, scientific term.
- It is often discussed in contrast to accidental cell death (necrosis), which results from acute injury.
- Common contexts include developmental biology, cancer research, immunology, and neurology.
Examples
- Noun:
- During embryonic development, programmed cell death shapes structures like fingers and toes by removing the webbing between them.
- The failure of programmed cell death is a hallmark of cancer, allowing damaged cells to survive and proliferate.
- Researchers are studying the signaling pathways that initiate programmed cell death.
Advanced Usage
- "to undergo programmed cell death": The standard phrase describing a cell entering this process.
- Cells infected by the virus were triggered to undergo programmed cell death.
- The term is often used interchangeably with its most common specific form, apoptosis, though apoptosis is one type of programmed cell death.
Variants and Related Words
- Apoptosis (n): The most well-studied and common form of programmed cell death, characterized by specific morphological changes like cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation.
- Apoptosis is a classic example of programmed cell death.
- Autophagy (n): A related cellular process involving the degradation of a cell's own components; it can sometimes lead to a form of programmed cell death.
- Necroptosis (n): A regulated form of inflammatory cell death, distinct from apoptosis.
Synonyms
- Cell suicide: A more informal, descriptive synonym.
- Apoptosis (in many, but not all, contexts).
Related Phrases
- Induction of programmed cell death: The act of triggering this process.
- The therapy works by the induction of programmed cell death in tumor cells.
- Dysregulation of programmed cell death: When the control of this process is faulty.
- Dysregulation of programmed cell death is involved in many diseases.
Related Concepts
- Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment; programmed cell death is a key mechanism for cellular homeostasis.
- Caspases: A family of protease enzymes that play essential roles in executing apoptosis.
- Death receptor: A type of receptor on the cell surface that can transmit signals to initiate programmed cell death.
Noun
- a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival