Chapter 32 – Monitoring Cell Death

This chapter examines principles and methods for monitoring cell death. Apoptosis is widely recognized as the primary mechanism whereby physiologic and pathologic cell death occurs. Dying cells have an influence on the immune system through the modulation of cytokine production and the delivery of antigen for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presentation. To dissect the ways in which dying cells influence the regulation of immune activation versus tolerance, it is required to clearly define the path taken as a cell moves from among the living cells to its final resting place within the phagosome. Cell death by apoptosis is characterized by a series of morphological changes distinguishing them from healthy cells. Morphological examination of cells undergoing apoptosis by microscopy is still a standard method to study this phenomenon. Recent advance in the field has been the use of noninvasive imaging techniques for monitoring cell death in vivo. This technology is applied to the detection of cardiac allograft rejection and other transplanted organs, monitoring of atherosclerotic lesions, and imaging of cell death in solid tumors.