Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a distinct form of cell death that is functionally and morphologically different from necrosis. Nuclear chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic shrinking, dilated endoplasmic reticulum, and membrane blebbing characterize apoptosis in general. Mitochondria remain morphologically unchanged. In 1972 Kerr et al introduced the concept of apoptosis as a distinct form of "cell-death", and the mechanisms of various apoptotic pathways are still being revealed today.

细胞凋亡是一种独特的细胞死亡形式，其在功能与形态上与细胞坏死显著不同。一般而言，细胞凋亡的特征包括核染色质浓缩、细胞质萎缩、扩张的内质网以及细胞膜出现囊泡。线粒体在形态上保持不变。1972年，Kerr 等人首次提出了细胞凋亡作为“细胞死亡”的一种独立形式的概念，而各种凋亡途径的机制至今仍在不断被揭示。