The final step in programmed cell death: phagocytes carry apoptotic cells to the grave

2003 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 105-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee M deCathelineau ◽  
Peter M Henson
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Cytokines And Chemokines ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
And Function ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Dying Cells ◽  
High Degree

As cells undergo apoptosis, they are recognized and removed from the body by phagocytes. This oft-overlooked yet critical final step in the cell-death programme protects tissues from exposure to the toxic contents of dying cells and also serves to prevent further tissue damage by stimulating production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The clearance of apoptotic-cell corpses occurs throughout the lifespan of multicellular organisms and is important for normal development during embryogenesis, the maintenance of normal tissue integrity and function, and the resolution of inflammation. Many of the signal-transduction molecules implicated in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells appear to have a high degree of evolutionary conservation, and therefore the engulfment of apoptotic cells is likely to represent one of the most primitive forms of phagocytosis. With the realization that the signals that govern apoptotic-cell removal also serve to attenuate inflammation and the immune response, as well as initiate signals for tissue repair and remodelling in response to cell death, the study of apoptotic cell clearance is a field experiencing a dynamic increase in interest and momentum.

Apoptosis in the lung: induction, clearance and detection

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (4) ◽  
pp. L601-L611 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Henson ◽  
R. M. Tuder
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Tissue Repair ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Lung Cells ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Local Responses ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Dying Cells

Apoptosis and other forms of programmed cell death are important contributors to lung pathophysiology. In this brief review, we discuss some of the implications of finding apoptotic cells in the lung and methods for their detection. The balance between induction of apoptosis and the normally highly efficient clearance of such cells shows that these are highly dynamic processes and suggests that abnormalities of apoptotic cell clearance may be an alternative explanation for their detection. Because recognition of apoptotic cells by other lung cells has additional effects on inflammation, immunity, and tissue repair, local responses to the dying cells may also have important consequences in addition to the cell death itself.

scholarly journals Chemokines as phosphatidylserine-bound ‘find-me’ signals in apoptotic cell clearance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio M. Pontejo ◽  
Philip M. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Anionic Phospholipid ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Plasma ◽  
Signal Activity ◽  
Dying Cells

AbstractChemokines are positively charged cytokines that attract leukocytes by binding to anionic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on endothelial cells for efficient presentation to leukocyte G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The atypical chemokine CXCL16 has been reported to also bind the anionic phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS), but the biological relevance of this interaction remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that PS binding is in fact a widely shared property of chemokine superfamily members that, like GAG binding, induces chemokine oligomerization. PS is an essential phospholipid of the inner leaflet of the healthy cell plasma membrane but it is exposed in apoptotic cells to act as an ‘eat-me’ signal that promotes engulfment of dying cells by phagocytes. We found that chemokines can bind PS in pure form as well as in the context of liposomes and on the surface of apoptotic cells and extracellular vesicles released by apoptotic cells, which are known to act as ‘find-me’ signals that chemoattract phagocytes during apoptotic cell clearance. Importantly, we show that GAGs are severely depleted from the surface of apoptotic cells and that extracellular vesicles extracted from apoptotic mouse thymus bind endogenous thymic chemokines and activate cognate chemokine receptors. Together these results indicate that chemokines tethered to surface-exposed PS may be responsible for the chemotactic and find-me signal activity previously attributed to extracellular vesicles, and that PS may substitute for GAGs as the anionic scaffold that regulates chemokine oligomerization and presentation to GPCRs on the GAG-deficient membranes of apoptotic cells and extracellular vesicles. Here, we present a new mechanism by which extracellular vesicles, currently recognized as essential agents for intercellular communication in homeostasis and disease, can transport signaling cytokines.

scholarly journals Find-me and eat-me signals in apoptotic cell clearance: progress and conundrums

2010 ◽  
Vol 207 (9) ◽  
pp. 1807-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kodi S. Ravichandran
Keyword(s):  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
New Information ◽  
Multiple Receptors ◽  
Dying Cells

Everyday we turnover billions of cells. The quick, efficient, and immunologically silent disposal of the dying cells requires a coordinated orchestration of multiple steps, through which phagocytes selectively recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. Recent studies have suggested an important role for soluble mediators released by apoptotic cells that attract phagocytes (“find-me” signals). New information has also emerged on multiple receptors that can recognize phosphatidylserine, the key “eat-me” signal exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells. This perspective discusses recent exciting progress, gaps in our understanding, and the conflicting issues that arise from the newly acquired knowledge.

scholarly journals “Dead Cells Talking”: The Silent Form of Cell Death Is Not so Quiet

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Jäger ◽  
Howard O. Fearnhead
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell Proliferation ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Dying Cells

After more than twenty years of research, the molecular events of apoptotic cell death can be succinctly stated; different pathways, activated by diverse signals, increase the activity of proteases called caspases that rapidly and irreversibly dismantle condemned cell by cleaving specific substrates. In this time the ideas that apoptosis protects us from tumourigenesis and that cancer chemotherapy works by inducing apoptosis also emerged. Currently, apoptosis research is shifting away from the intracellular events within the dying cell to focus on the effect of apoptotic cells on surrounding tissues. This is producing counterintuitive data showing that our understanding of the role of apoptosis in tumourigenesis and cancer therapy is too simple, with some interesting and provocative implications. Here, we will consider evidence supporting the idea that dying cells signal their presence to the surrounding tissue and, in doing so, elicit repair and regeneration that compensates for any loss of function caused by cell death. We will discuss evidence suggesting that cancer cell proliferation may be driven by inappropriate or corrupted tissue-repair programmes that are initiated by signals from apoptotic cells and show how this may dramatically modify how we view the role of apoptosis in both tumourigenesis and cancer therapy.

scholarly journals TNFα inhibits apoptotic cell clearance in the lung, exacerbating acute inflammation

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. L586-L595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria M. Borges ◽  
R. William Vandivier ◽  
Kathleen A. McPhillips ◽  
Jennifer A. Kench ◽  
Konosuke Morimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Neutrophil Accumulation ◽  
Cell Recruitment ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Persistent Inflammation ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Proinflammatory Responses ◽  
Dying Cells

Efficient removal of apoptotic cells is essential for resolution of inflammation. Failure to clear dying cells can exacerbate lung injury and lead to persistent inflammation and autoimmunity. Here we show that TNFα blocks apoptotic cell clearance by alveolar macrophages and leads to proinflammatory responses in the lung. Compared with mice treated with intratracheal TNFα or exogenous apoptotic cells, mice treated with the combination of TNFα plus apoptotic cells demonstrated reduced apoptotic cell clearance from the lungs and increased recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes to the air spaces. Treatment with intratracheal TNFα had no effect on the removal of exogenous apoptotic cells from the lungs of TNFα receptor-1 (p55) and -2 (p75) double mutant mice and no effect on leukocyte recruitment. Bronchoalveolar lavage from mice treated with TNFα plus apoptotic cells contained increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, KC, and MCP-1, but exhibited no change in levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β. Administration of TNFα plus apoptotic cells during LPS-induced lung injury augmented neutrophil accumulation and proinflammatory cytokine production. These findings suggest that the presence of TNFα in the lung can alter the response of phagocytes to apoptotic cells leading to inflammatory cell recruitment and proinflammatory mediator production.

scholarly journals Microglia in the developing retina couple phagocytosis with the progression of apoptosis via P2RY12 signaling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary I. Blume ◽  
Jared M. Lambert ◽  
Anna G. Lovel ◽  
Diana M. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
List Type ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Real Time Imaging ◽  
Microglial Phagocytosis ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Dying Cells

AbstractBackgroundMicroglia colonize the developing vertebrate central nervous system coincident with detection of developmental apoptosis. Our understanding of apoptosis in intact tissue in relation to microglial clearance of dying cells is largely based on fixed samples, which is limiting given that microglia are highly motile and mobile phagocytes. Here, we used a system of microglial depletion and in vivo real-time imaging in zebrafish to directly address microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells during normal retinal development, the relative timing of phagocytosis in relation to apoptotic progression, and the contribution of P2RY12 signaling to this process.ResultsDepletion of microglia resulted in accumulation of numerous apoptotic cells in the retina. Real-time imaging revealed precise timing of microglial engulfment with the progression of apoptosis, and dynamic movement and displacement of engulfed apoptotic cells. Inhibition of P2RY12 signaling delayed microglial clearance of apoptotic cells.ConclusionsMicroglial engulfment of dying cells is coincident with apoptotic progression and requires P2RY12 signaling, indicating that microglial P2RY12 signaling is shared between development and injury response. Our work provides important in vivo insight into the dynamics of apoptotic cell clearance in the developing vertebrate retina and provides a basis to understand microglial phagocytic behavior in health and disease.Bullet PointsLevels and location of developmental apoptosis in the zebrafish retina are elusive due to rapid and efficient clearance by microgliaMicroglial clearance of apoptotic cells is timed with the progression of apoptosis of the engulfed cell so that many cells are cleared in relatively early apoptotic stagesP2RY12 signaling is involved in microglial sensing and clearance of cells undergoing normal developmental apoptosis, indicating shared signals in microglial responses to cell death in both healthy and injured tissueGrant SponsorsNIH NIGMS Grant No. P20 GM103408

scholarly journals Anti-apogens and anti-engulfens: monoclonal antibodies reveal specific antigens on apoptotic and engulfment cells during chicken embryonic development

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 1421-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Rotello ◽  
P.A. Fernandez ◽  
J. Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Specific Antigens ◽  
Common Leukocyte Antigen ◽  
Cell Death Mechanisms ◽  
Dying Cells

We have isolated a group of monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize either apoptotic or engulfment cells in the interdigit areas of chicken hind limb foot plates, and throughout the embryo. Ten of these antibodies (anti-apogens) detect epitopes on dying cells that colocalize to areas of programmed cell death, characterized by the presence of apoptotic cells and bodies with typical cellular and nuclear morphology. Our results indicate that cells destined to die, or that are in the process of dying, express specific antigens that are not detectable in or on the surface of living cells. The detection of these apoptotic cell antigens in other areas of programmed cell death throughout the chick embryo indicates that different cell types, which form specific tissues and organs, may utilize similar cell death mechanisms. Six of the monoclonal antibodies (antiengulfens) define a class of engulfment cells which contain various numbers of apoptotic cells and/or apoptotic bodies in areas of programmed cell death. The immunostaining pattern of the anti-engulfen R15F is similar to that of an antibody against a common leukocyte antigen, suggesting the participation of cells from the immune system in the removal of apoptotic cell debris. These novel monoclonal antibody markers for apoptotic and engulfment cells will provide new tools to assist the further understanding of developmental programmed cell death in vertebrates.

scholarly journals Phagocytic clearance of apoptotic, necrotic, necroptotic and pyroptotic cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia K. Atkin-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Dying Cells ◽  
Cell Engulfment

Although millions of cells in the human body will undergo programmed cell death each day, dying cells are rarely detected under homeostatic settings in vivo. The swift removal of dying cells is due to the rapid recruitment of phagocytes to the site of cell death which then recognise and engulf the dying cell. Apoptotic cell clearance — the engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytes — is a well-defined process governed by a series of molecular factors including ‘find-me’, ‘eat-me’, ‘don't eat-me’ and ‘good-bye’ signals. However, in recent years with the rapid expansion of the cell death field, the removal of other necrotic-like cell types has drawn much attention. Depending on the type of death, dying cells employ different mechanisms to facilitate engulfment and elicit varying functional impacts on the phagocyte, from wound healing responses to inflammatory cytokine secretion. Nevertheless, despite the mechanism of death, the clearance of dying cells is a fundamental process required to prevent the uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory mediators and inflammatory disease. This mini-review summarises the current understandings of: (i) apoptotic, necrotic, necroptotic and pyroptotic cell clearance; (ii) the functional consequences of dying cell engulfment and; (iii) the outstanding questions in the field.

scholarly journals Current Understanding of the Mechanisms for Clearance of Apoptotic Cells—A Fine Balance

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. JCD.S11037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois A. Hawkins ◽  
Andrew Devitt
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Inflammatory Process ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Viable Cells ◽  
Effective Removal ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Dying Cells

Apoptosis is an important cell death mechanism by which multicellular organisms remove unwanted cells. It culminates in a rapid, controlled removal of cell corpses by neighboring or recruited viable cells. Whilst many of the molecular mechanisms that mediate corpse clearance are components of the innate immune system, clearance of apoptotic cells is an anti-inflammatory process. Control of cell death is dependent on competing pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signals. Evidence now suggests a similar balance of competing signals is central to the effective removal of cells, through so called ‘eat me’ and ‘don't eat me’ signals. Competing signals are also important for the controlled recruitment of phagocytes to sites of cell death. Consequently recruitment of phagocytes to and from sites of cell death can underlie the resolution or inappropriate propagation of cell death and inflammation. This article highlights our understanding of mechanisms mediating clearance of dying cells and discusses those mechanisms controlling phagocyte migration and how inappropriate control may promote important pathologies.

scholarly journals Clearance of apoptotic cells: implications in health and disease

2010 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 1059-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Elliott ◽  
Kodi S. Ravichandran
Keyword(s):  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Apoptotic Cell Clearance ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Process Studies ◽  
Dying Cells

Recent advances in defining the molecular signaling pathways that regulate the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells have improved our understanding of this complex and evolutionarily conserved process. Studies in mice and humans suggest that the prompt removal of dying cells is crucial for immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. Failed or defective clearance has emerged as an important contributing factor to a range of disease processes. This review addresses how specific molecular alterations of engulfment pathways are linked to pathogenic states. A better understanding of the apoptotic cell clearance process in healthy and diseased states could offer new therapeutic strategies.

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