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B io Factsheet www.curriculum-press.co.uk Number 221 Apoptosis Definitions AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome: A set of conditions in which the affected individual suffers opportunistic infections as a result of a depleted immune response Apoptosis cell death by suicide, following a well-defined sequence of events ‘built in’ to the cell Bleb a bubble-like structure on the cell surface, containing the remains of broken–down organelles Cancer a condition resulting from a loss of control of orderly cell division Extrinsic ‘from outside’ : A process or structure occurring outside the cell Intrinsic ‘from within’ : A process or structure occurring inside the cell PCD programmed cell death: Another name for apoptosis, emphasising that the sequence of events leading to cell suicide is ‘built in’ to the cell’s genetic programme. Phagocyte a white blood cell which may remove target materials by ingestion within temporary vacuoles; the formation of vacuoles in this way is phagocytosis. Receptor a molecule, often on a cell surface, able to recognise and bind to a complementary molecule. This complementary molecule may then act as a signal for an intracellular process. Introduction Cells do not live forever – eventually each one of them dies. Cells may be made to commit suicide – this is known as apoptosis or programmed cell death. Most cells undergo about 50 mitotic divisions (known as the Hayflick constant) before apoptosis. Cells which die by committing suicide do so in a well-organised manner (Fig.1): • They shrink • The DNA and protein in the nucleus is degraded (broken down) • The mitochondria are degraded • ‘Blebs’ develop on the cell surface • The ‘blebs’ are engulfed by phagocytes • The phagocytes release signals to inhibit inflammation Fig 1 : Simple outline of apoptosis 1. Cell 'programmed' for apoptosis Nucleus 4. Nucleus fragments. 'Blebs' collected by phagocyte if phagocyte recognises cell for apoptosis Nucleus condensing Nucleus fragmenting 2. 'Signal' received Blebs Apoptotic body 3. Nucleus condenses and cell shrinks 1 Phagocyte (i.e. macrophages) engulfs apoptotic bodies Bio Factsheet 221 Apoptosis www.curriculum-press.co.uk Why do cells commit suicide? There are two reasons for this. • It may be part of the body’s defences against pathogens or dangerous, damaged cells. • It may be part of the normal developmental process for the organism. Fig 2 : Reasons for apoptosis Development of an organism Threats to an organism Infected cells Synapse formation Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (white blood cells involved in defence against disease) kill virusinfected cells by making them undergo apoptosis. Some infecting viruses may use their own protection system to prevent this happening! One of the HPV (Human Papilloma Viruses) implicated in causing cervical cancer does this by producing a protein that binds to and inhibits the p53 promoter of apoptosis. During development of the nervous system apoptosis removes surplus cells so that synaptic connections can be made correctly between the appropriate cells needed in a particular nerve pathway. Autoimmunity ‘Trimming’ and shaping Cell-mediated immune responses become less extensive as the challenge to the immune system is removed. There is a danger that the active immune cells could attack the body of the host organism, so cytotoxic T-lymphocytes set off the process of apoptosis in each other (and even in themselves!). If this process does not work effectively, the immune cells may cause autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, in which body tissues can be severely damaged. This autoimmune response can be fatal. The formation of fingers and toes on hands and feet needs the surplus tissue between them to be removed by apoptosis. Damage to DNA During menstruation Damage to the DNA in a cell may make that cell become cancerous, or it may affect its normal pathway of development and cause birth defects. Cells with DNA damage produce large quantities of a protein, p53, which acts as a powerful inducer of apoptosis. It is interesting that many cancerous cells have mutations in the gene producing this compound, and so cannot be made to ‘commit suicide’. The endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) is shed at the beginning of the menstrual cycle as apoptosis removes cells which hold the lining in place. During metamorphosis The reabsorption of the tail of a tadpole as it develops into a frog depends on apoptosis as the cells of the tail must be broken down before their components can be reabsorbed. Cancer cells Some forms of radio and chemotherapy set off apoptosis in cancer cells, so that the cancer cells destroy themselves and the threat to the whole organism is overcome. Some very severe and aggressive forms of cancer can prevent this happening. For example, melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) cells avoid apoptosis by inhibiting the formation of one of the proteins that starts the process of breaking down cell proteins. Some lung cancer cells prevent lymphocytes from recognising dangerous dividing cells by producing a decoy molecule on their surface so that the lymphocyte cannot bind and begin apoptosis. 2 Bio Factsheet 221 Apoptosis www.curriculum-press.co.uk Control of Apoptosis Apoptosis is controlled by a wide range of signals, some of which come from inside the cell (intrinsic factors) and some of which come from outside the cell (extrinsic factors). Whether or not a cell commits suicide depends on a balance between two sets of signals: positive signals (such as growth factor for neurones and interleukin for mitosis of lymphocytes) which are needed for the cell to continue to survive, and negative signals (such as high levels of oxidants (e.g. peroxide ions), cytokines, nitric oxide, harmful radiation, accumulation of incorrectly-shaped proteins and death activators that bind to specific receptors on the cell surface) which signal the start of apoptosis. Apoptosis and AIDS During AIDS the numbers of CD4 T cells in the affected individual fall dramatically, and this individual cannot then mount an effective immune response. CD4 T cells are infected by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), but it isn’t these particles that kill off the CD4 cells. It seems that these cells are killed by apoptosis because they produce too much of a receptor (called FAS) which can bind to a death activator, causing the cells to commit suicide. Practice Questions 1. Why is apoptosis important to living organisms? (8 marks) 2. Complete the following account of apoptosis by filling in the gaps. Apoptosis is also known as ..........................................................., because the ability to commit suicide appears to be ‘built in’ to every cell. Cells undergoing apoptosis can be recognised because they ................................ in size, the ............................. condenses and organelles such as ................................... break down and become enclosed in extensions of the cell surface membrane called ...................... . The signals for apoptosis may be internal (.............................. ) or external ( ............................ ). A common internal signal is the presence of high levels of oxidants such as ....................................… Both internal and external signals eventually result in the destruction and removal of the cell by ...................................... . (9 marks) 2. programmed cell death; decrease/shrink; nucleus; mitochondria; blebs; intrinsic; extrinsic; peroxide ions/superoxide ions; phagocytes; 1. defence against pathogens/with examples (max 3 marks); development of organism/with examples (max 4 marks); in disease management e.g. targeting of tumour cells (1 mark). Answers Acknowledgements: This Factsheet was researched and written by Ron Pickering. Curriculum Press, Bank House, 105 King Street, Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1NU. Bio Factsheets may be copied free of charge by teaching staff or students, provided that their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by any other means, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136 3