CGC Bibliography Paper 5291

With a little help from your friends: cells don't die

Conradt B

Medline:
Citation:
Nature Cell Biology 4: E139-E143 2002
Type:
REVIEW
Genes:
ced-1 ced-2 ced-3 ced-4 ced-5 ced-6 ced-7 ced-9 ced-10 ced-12 cps-6 egl-1 nuc-1
Abstract:
Phagocytes have long been known to engulf and degrade apoptotic cells. Recent studies in mammals and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have shed some light on the conserved molecular mechanisms involved in this process. A series of results now challenge the traditional view of phagocytes as simply scavengers, 'cleaning up' after apoptosis to prevent inflammatory responses, and hence tissue damage. Instead, they suggest that phagocytes are active in the induction and/or execution of apoptosis in