Apoptotic Cell Clearance: An Orchestra With Still Too Many Unknown Players

Apoptotic cells are removed by a process involving recognition and phagocytosis by professional phagocytes or neighbouring cells, followed by the induction of an active anti-inflammatory response. These events are critical for efficient corpse elimination and to prevent the release of potentially cytotoxic cellular contents that could elicit an autoimmune response: defects in apoptotic cell clearance are often associated with autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, high levels of cell death occur within a tumour environment and the mechanisms through which dying tumour cells are removed can considerably influence tumour-specific immunity.