The Dynamics of Apoptotic Cell Clearance

Dev Cell. 2016 Jul 25;38(2):147-60. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.06.029.

Authors

Michael R Elliott¹, Kodi S Ravichandran²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Electronic address: michael_elliott@urmc.rochester.edu.
² Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Cell Clearance, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. Electronic address: ravi@virginia.edu.

Abstract

The phagocytic clearance of dying cells in a tissue is a highly orchestrated series of intercellular events coordinated by a complex signaling network. Recent data from genetic, biochemical, and live-imaging approaches have greatly enhanced our understanding of the dynamics of cell clearance and how the process is orchestrated at the cellular and tissue levels. We discuss how networks regulating apoptotic cell clearance are integrated to enable a rapid, efficient, and high-capacity clearance system within tissues.

Keywords: apoptosis; chemotaxis; efferocytosis; imaging; immunity; phagocytosis; signal transduction.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis*
Humans
Phagocytosis / physiology*
Signal Transduction

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding