apoptosis
Meaning: A form of programmed cell death in which cells undergo an orderly, genetically controlled self-destruction. It is essential for normal development and tissue homeostasis.
Apoptosis differs fundamentally from necrosis in that it is a controlled, energy-dependent process that does not provoke inflammation. Defective apoptosis is implicated in cancer, where cells fail to die on schedule, and in autoimmune diseases, where immune cells attack healthy tissue. The term is pronounced with the second 'p' silent, reflecting its Greek roots.
Examples
- Apoptosis eliminates damaged cells before they can become cancerous, acting as the body's quality control mechanism. 细胞凋亡在受损细胞癌变之前将其清除,充当人体的质量控制机制。La apoptosis elimina las células dañadas antes de que puedan volverse cancerosas, actuando como mecanismo de control de calidad del organismo.アポトーシスは、損傷を受けた細胞が癌化する前にそれを排除し、体の品質管理機構として機能する。세포자멸사는 손상된 세포가 암화되기 전에 제거하여 신체의 품질 관리 기구로 기능한다.
- The failure of apoptosis in lymphocytes can lead to the development of autoimmune disorders. 淋巴细胞的凋亡失败可导致自身免疫性疾病的发生。El fallo de la apoptosis en los linfocitos puede conducir al desarrollo de trastornos autoinmunes.リンパ球におけるアポトーシスの不全は、自己免疫疾患の発症につながり得る。림프구에서의 세포자멸사 결함은 자가면역질환의 발생으로 이어질 수 있다.
- During embryonic development, apoptosis sculpts the fingers and toes by removing the webbing between them. 在胚胎发育过程中,细胞凋亡通过去除手指和脚趾之间的蹼状组织来塑造指趾形态。Durante el desarrollo embrionario, la apoptosis esculpe los dedos de las manos y los pies eliminando la membrana interdigital.胚発生の過程で、アポトーシスは指と足指の間の水かきを除去することによってその形を形成する。배아 발생 과정에서 세포자멸사는 손가락과 발가락 사이의 물갈퀴를 제거하여 그 형태를 만든다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: medical, academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek apoptosis meaning 'falling off,' as leaves fall from a tree. The term was coined in 1972 by John Kerr, Andrew Wyllie, and Alastair Currie in a landmark paper published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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