Apoptosis - A Distinctive Form of Cell Death as Biochemical, Molecular and Morphological Changes

Apoptosis is the genetically regulated form of cell death that permits the safe disposal of cells at the point in time when they have fulfilled their intended biological function. It is a vitally important process during normal development and the adult life of many living organisms by which the cytotoxic drugs kill tumor cells. Apoptosis or programmed cell death is of great importance in normal development, homeostasis and pathogenic processes. Apoptosis is characterized by a set of morphologic changes which include detachment of cells from their surroundings, shrinking of the cytoplasm with relative conservation of organelles, condensation of chromatin and fragmentation of the cell and nucleus into well contained fragments called apoptotic bodies. It can be considered as the process by which cells undergo as form of non-necrotic cellular suicide that permits the safe disposal of cells at the point in time when they have fulfilled their intended biological function. Apoptotic bodies arising in tissues are quickly ingested by nearby cells and degraded within their lysosomes, so there is no associated inflammation. Apoptosis involves compaction and margination of nuclear chromatin, condensation of cytoplasm and convolution of nuclear and cell outlines. At the later stage, the nuclear fragments and protuberances that form on the cell surface separate to produce apoptotic bodies which are phagocytosed by nearby cells degraded within lysosomes.