API
Event: 1513
Key Event Title
Short name
General ApoptosisBiological Context
| Level of Biological Organization |
|---|
| Cellular |
Cell term
Organ term
Key Event Components
| Process | Object | Action |
|---|
Key Event Overview
AOPs Including This Key Event
| AOP Name | Role of event in AOP |
|---|---|
| CYP2E1 activation and formation of protein adducts leading to neurodegeneration | KeyEvent |
Stressors
Taxonomic Applicability
Life Stages
Sex Applicability
Key Event Description
Apoptosis is the programmed cell death in general. This process is well regulated with a sequence of events before cell fragmentation occurs. Changes in the nucleus of a neuron cell are the first step in apoptosis. Before that, other factors such as stress, inflammation, cell damage can induce expression or activation of signal proteins which will activate the pathway for apoptosis. Examples of proteins which are involved in apoptosis are the proteins p53, Bcl-2, JNK, and several caspases. When the first step is taken in the apoptosis process the neuron cell will end in membrane-bounded apoptotic bodies. These bodies are cleared by macrophages or other cells where the degradation process starts within heteorphagosomes.
How It Is Measured or Detected
There are several possibilities to measure and detect apoptosis, some examples are the detection of LDH and MTT substances which are released from cells which commit suicide. An older but effective technique it the annexin V – affinity assay. The principle of this assay is the high affinity binding between annexin V and phosphatidylserine. In a vital cell there is a membrane lipid asymmetry where phosphatidylserine molecules are facing the cytosol. During apoptosis the membrane lipid asymmetry is lost, and the phosphatidylserine molecules are expressed in the outer membrane. When annexin-V is present in combination with Ca2+ it binds with high affinity to phosphatidylserine. With a hapten label at the annexin-V this process can be detected.
Other techniques are the detection of cleaved caspase-3, which could be done with a western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Cytochrome c is also a protein which is released in an early stage of apoptosis. Detection of cytochrome c can be done with metal nanoclusters which have a fluorescent probe.
Domain of Applicability
References
Shtilbans, V., Wu, M. & Burstein, D. E. Evaluation of apoptosis in cytologic specimens. Diagnostic Cytopathology 38, 685–697 (2010).
Wu, J., Sun, J. & Xue, Y. Involvement of JNK and P53 activation in G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in neuron cells. Toxicol. Lett. 199, 269–276 (2010).
Redza-Dutordoir, M. & Averill-Bates, D. A. Activation of apoptosis signalling pathways by reactive oxygen species. Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Mol. Cell Res. 1863, 2977–2992 (2016).
Lossi, L., Castagna, C. & Merighi, A. Neuronal cell death: An overview of its different forms in central and peripheral neurons. in Neuronal Cell Death: Methods and Protocols 1–18 (2014). doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2152-2_1
Van Engeland, M., Nieland, L. J. W., Ramaekers, F. C. S., Schutte, B. & Reutelingsperger, C. P. M. Annexin V-affinity assay: A review on an apoptosis detection system based on phosphatidylserine exposure. Cytometry 31, 1–9 (1998).
Shamsipur, M., Molaabasi, F., Hosseinkhani, S. & Rahmati, F. Detection of Early Stage Apoptotic Cells Based on Label-Free Cytochrome c Assay Using Bioconjugated Metal Nanoclusters as Fluorescent Probes. Anal. Chem. 88, 2188–2197 (2016).