Cells in our body react differently when they face low oxygen levels or injury. They change how they work to try to survive. Let’s break down how some of these important cell types respond:

1. Neurons:

   • Neurons, or brain cells, are very sensitive to low oxygen.
   • They can only survive about 5 minutes without oxygen before serious damage happens.
   • This damage is mostly because they run out of energy and can start to malfunction.
   • Once they are harmed, it is hard for them to recover, and they can die at a higher rate.

2. Cardiomyocytes:

   • These are heart cells, and they have a clever trick called ischemic preconditioning.
   • This helps them handle short bursts of low oxygen better.
   • After a heart attack, around 30-40% of these cells might die right away.
   • However, more cell death can happen in the following days due to a problem called reperfusion injury when blood flow returns.

3. Hepatocytes:

   • These are liver cells, and they are quite adaptable.
   • If they get hurt, they can grow back.
   • For example, after about half of the liver is surgically removed, the liver can regenerate up to 40% of its original size in just 7-14 days.

4. Epithelial Cells:

   • These cells line our organs and can also respond to injury.
   • When they are hurt, they start to multiply more rapidly and can help heal themselves by moving and growing back.
   • Depending on the type and extent of the injury, they can recover up to 80% of their normal function.

Knowing how these different cell types react helps scientists and doctors create better treatments to fix cell damage and support recovery.