We all are aware that whoever is born will die some day. This principle is also applied to fundamental form of life i.e. cells. Death of cells is essential for maintaining the cell population. The death of cells can be natural or could be caused by unfavourable conditions or injury. Apoptosis and Necrosis are two different mechanism that leads to death.
Apoptosis is called as programmed cell death where cell follows a step by step protocol. Whereas the necrosis is caused by physical (radiation/heat) or chemical agent (toxins) or unfavourable conditions (anaerobic conditions). Such conditions may cause unexpected and unplanned death of the cell.
| Apoptosis | Necrosis |
| It is programmed cell death | It is premature and unplanned death |
| It is natural process | It is due to unfavorable and external conditions |
| It is caused by physiological process | It is caused by pathological condition |
| It is regulated process | It is unregulated process |
| It does not cause inflammation | It cause local inflammation |
| In Apoptosis, the cytoplasm is shrink, Nucleus is condensed and chromatin is aggregated, DNA is fragmented | In Necrosis, the cell swells causing its lysis followed by degradation of DNA |
| It is caspases dependent process | It is caspases independent process |
| It is occurred in individual cell | It occurs in group of cells |
| Apoptosis controls the cells’ population | It stimulate immune system |
References–
https://sites.google.com/site/apoptosisposter/
Kindt, T., Goldsby, R., Osborne, B., Kuby, J. and Kuby, J., 2007. Kuby immunology. New York: W.H. Freeman.
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