Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Center for Human Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
Robarts Research Institute, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
Cells. 2021 May 20;10(5):1265. doi: 10.3390/cells10051265.
Apoptosis, the programmed and intentional death of senescent, damaged, or otherwise superfluous cells, is the natural end-point for most cells within multicellular organisms. Apoptotic cells are not inherently damaging, but if left unattended, they can lyse through secondary necrosis. The resulting release of intracellular contents drives inflammation in the surrounding tissue and can lead to autoimmunity. These negative consequences of secondary necrosis are avoided by efferocytosis-the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. Efferocytosis is a product of both apoptotic cells and efferocyte mechanisms, which cooperate to ensure the rapid and complete removal of apoptotic cells. Herein, we review the processes used by apoptotic cells to ensure their timely removal, and the receptors, signaling, and cellular processes used by efferocytes for efferocytosis, with a focus on the receptors and signaling driving this process.
细胞凋亡是衰老、受损或其他多余细胞的程序性和有意死亡，是多细胞生物中大多数细胞的自然终点。凋亡细胞本身不会造成损害，但如果不加以处理，它们可能会通过继发性坏死而溶解。由此产生的细胞内物质的释放会引发周围组织的炎症，并可能导致自身免疫。继发性坏死的这些负面后果可以通过吞噬细胞清除凋亡细胞来避免。吞噬细胞清除是凋亡细胞和吞噬细胞机制的产物，两者共同合作以确保快速而完全地清除凋亡细胞。在此，我们回顾了凋亡细胞用于确保其及时清除的过程，以及吞噬细胞用于吞噬细胞清除的受体、信号和细胞过程，重点介绍了驱动这一过程的受体和信号。
