Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a tightly regulated form of programmed cell death in which cells are dismantled in an orderly fashion via caspase activation, typically without triggering inflammation as it is non-lytic and anti-inflammatory relative to necrosis or pyroptosis. It eliminates damaged, infected, or surplus cells and is essential for development, tissue homeostasis, and tumor suppression. Tissue- and context-specific changes in apoptosis with age contribute to impaired clearance of damaged or senescent cells in some tissues and to atrophy and neurodegeneration in others.