Cell Death Mechanisms

Cells and their building blocks ensure the maintenance of life by performing complex tasks such as taking in nutrients, excreting waste materials, producing energy, growth, division and reproduction. The form of intercellular communication and coordination is critical for the organism to grow, develop, and adapt to its environment optimally. The numerical balance of the cells that make up the organism is very important for it to survive in a healthy way. While new cells are being created in the living being, some of the existing cells are also eliminated through cell death, thus ensuring a stable balance. As new cells are generated within the organism, a portion of the existing cells undergoes elimination through the process of cell death, thereby maintaining a stable balance. To uphold this mechanism, various forms of cell death mechanisms are activated. Cell death occurs spontaneously, genetically or by other factors that are a part of the life of living things. It basically exists in two main forms. These are programmed and unprogrammed cell death. Cell death mechanisms are critical for the development, survival and health of living organisms. This process, which is basically divided into two main categories, is called programmed cell death (apoptosis) and unprogrammed cell death (necrosis). Programmed and unprogrammed cell death mechanisms are very important for the proper functioning of biological systems and the continuation of life. While programmed cell death (apoptosis) plays very important roles in the regulation and development of tissues, homeostasis, immune response and prevention of diseases, unprogrammed cell death (necrosis) is important in the rapid repair of tissue by clearing damaged cells and the clearance of pathogens. Understanding the way death mechanisms work is very important in terms of understanding the effects that may occur on a healthy continuation of life and in developing more effective methods in the treatment of diseases that may arise as a result. For these reasons, what death mechanisms are, their types, differences and working principles have been tried to be summarized in this study.