Cell death: a review of the major forms of apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy

Cell death was once believed to be the result of one of two distinct processes, apoptosis (also known as programmed cell death) or necrosis (uncontrolled cell death); in recent years, however, several other forms of cell death have been discovered highlighting that a cell can die via a number of differing pathways. Apoptosis is characterised by a number of characteristic morphological changes in the structure of the cell, together with a number of enzyme-dependent biochemical processes. The result being the clearance of cells from the body, with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. Necrosis, however, is generally characterised to be the uncontrolled death of the cell, usually following a severe insult,…