Kerr J F, Wyllie A H, Currie A R
Br J Cancer. 1972 Aug;26(4):239-57. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1972.33.
The term apoptosis is proposed for a hitherto little recognized mechanism of controlled cell deletion, which appears to play a complementary but opposite role to mitosis in the regulation of animal cell populations. Its morphological features suggest that it is an active, inherently programmed phenomenon, and it has been shown that it can be initiated or inhibited by a variety of environmental stimuli, both physiological and pathological.The structural changes take place in two discrete stages. The first comprises nuclear and cytoplasmic condensation and breaking up of the cell into a number of membrane-bound, ultrastructurally well-preserved fragments. In the second stage these apoptotic bodies are shed from epithelial-lined surfaces or are taken up by other cells, where they undergo a series of changes resembling in vitro autolysis within phagosomes, and are rapidly degraded by lysosomal enzymes derived from the ingesting cells.Apoptosis seems to be involved in cell turnover in many healthy adult tissues and is responsible for focal elimination of cells during normal embryonic development. It occurs spontaneously in untreated malignant neoplasms, and participates in at least some types of therapeutically induced tumour regression. It is implicated in both physiological involution and atrophy of various tissues and organs. It can also be triggered by noxious agents, both in the embryo and adult animal.
“凋亡”一词是针对一种迄今鲜为人知的受控细胞清除机制而提出的，这种机制在动物细胞群体的调控中似乎与有丝分裂起着互补但相反的作用。其形态学特征表明它是一种活跃的、内在程序化的现象，并且已经证明它可由多种生理和病理环境刺激引发或抑制。结构变化分两个不同阶段发生。第一阶段包括细胞核和细胞质浓缩，细胞分裂成许多膜结合的、超微结构保存良好的碎片。在第二阶段，这些凋亡小体从上皮衬里表面脱落或被其他细胞摄取，在那里它们经历一系列类似于吞噬体内体外自溶的变化，并被来自摄取细胞的溶酶体酶迅速降解。凋亡似乎参与许多健康成年组织中的细胞更新，并在正常胚胎发育过程中负责细胞的局部清除。它在未经治疗的恶性肿瘤中自发发生，并参与至少某些类型的治疗诱导的肿瘤消退。它与各种组织和器官的生理性退化和萎缩都有关。它也可由胚胎和成年动物中的有害物质触发。
