Cell Death, Apoptosis, Autophagy

Apoptosis is the best-characterized type of programmed cell death because of its importance in development & homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of different diseases such as cancer. Unlike necrosis which is an uncontrolled cell death, apoptotic cells die in a controlled fashion in response to a variety of extrinsic or intrinsic signals (e.g activation of TNF receptors, DNA damage, mitochondrial pathways). During apoptosis caspases are activated which cleave specific substrates ultimately resulting in cell death.