Apoptosis & Cell Viability

In many cell culture systems, assessing cell health is an important workflow step. Creative Biolabs offers a wide selection of assay antibodies for apoptosis and cell viability research to ensure cell health.

Background

Cell apoptosis involves the activation of caspases, programmed destruction of protein and DNA, loss of cell membrane asymmetry, and eventual loss of the integrity of the plasma membrane. Apoptosis plays an essential role in removing damaged or old cells and is involved in tissue homeostasis, organism development, and host defense of infected or transformed cells. Inhibition of apoptotic signaling has been described as a trait of cancer cells. Apoptosis and cell viability are essential for the comprehensive assessment of cell health and response to treatments during drug discovery, stem cell, and disease research.

Fig.1 Apoptosis signaling pathways. (Zhao, 2018)

Research Area of Apoptosis and Cell Viability in Different Species

• Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)

Cell death is an important and common feature of animal development, and defects underlie many human disease states. C. elegans has been proven an example for uncovering molecular and cellular processes controlling programmed cell death. Studies have shown that a core pathway consisting of the conserved proteins EGL-1/BH3-only, CED-4/APAF1, CED-9/BCL2, and CED-3/caspase promotes most cell death in the nematode, and a conserved set of proteins ensures the engulfment and degradation of dying cells. Besides, many regulatory pathways control cell death in C. elegans.

• Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila)

The swift clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs) by phagocytes is achieved through phagocytosis by professional or amateur phagocytes. Failure of process can lead to the development of many diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. In Drosophila, ACs can be engulfed by macrophages, glial, and epithelial cells. Drosophila macrophages perform similar functions to those of mammalian macrophages. They are professional phagocytes that participate in phagocytosis of ACs and pathogens. Some key elements involved in AC clearance of Drosophila have been identified, such as the receptors Croquemort and Draper, promoting Drosophila as a suitable model to genetically dissect this process.

Reference

1. Zhao, C.; et al; Programmed cell death: the battlefield between the host and alpha-herpesviruses and a potential avenue for cancer treatment. Oncotarget. 2018, 9(55): 30704-30719.

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