Environmental factors play a big role in triggering processes that lead to cell death, which is important for keeping our cells healthy. Here are some key environmental triggers that can cause this kind of cell death, called apoptosis:
Oxidative Stress: This happens when there are high levels of harmful substances called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body. These substances can harm our cells. About 85% of cell deaths related to oxidative stress happen because the cell's energy factories, called mitochondria, are not working properly.
Toxic Agents: Some chemicals, like heavy metals (for example, lead and mercury) and certain medicines (such as chemotherapy drugs), can start apoptosis. A specific drug called cisplatin can cause cell death in 70% to 80% of cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
Hypoxia: This term refers to low oxygen levels in the body. When cells don’t get enough oxygen, they may die. Research shows that more than 60% of cells can die when exposed to low oxygen conditions. This usually happens through a process activated by a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1).
Nutrient Deficiencies: When cells don’t get enough important nutrients like glucose, it can lead to their death. Studies show that if cells don't receive glucose, up to 50% of them can die within just 24 hours.
Infection: Sometimes, when our body is infected by germs or viruses, infected cells might just die to help stop the infection from spreading. In cases of viral infections, around 30% to 70% of the infected cells may undergo apoptosis to limit how much the virus can replicate.
All these environmental stressors interact with different pathways inside the cells, leading to either intrinsic or extrinsic processes of apoptosis. This is important for understanding how diseases progress and develop.
Environmental factors play a big role in triggering processes that lead to cell death, which is important for keeping our cells healthy. Here are some key environmental triggers that can cause this kind of cell death, called apoptosis:
Oxidative Stress: This happens when there are high levels of harmful substances called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body. These substances can harm our cells. About 85% of cell deaths related to oxidative stress happen because the cell's energy factories, called mitochondria, are not working properly.
Toxic Agents: Some chemicals, like heavy metals (for example, lead and mercury) and certain medicines (such as chemotherapy drugs), can start apoptosis. A specific drug called cisplatin can cause cell death in 70% to 80% of cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
Hypoxia: This term refers to low oxygen levels in the body. When cells don’t get enough oxygen, they may die. Research shows that more than 60% of cells can die when exposed to low oxygen conditions. This usually happens through a process activated by a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1).
Nutrient Deficiencies: When cells don’t get enough important nutrients like glucose, it can lead to their death. Studies show that if cells don't receive glucose, up to 50% of them can die within just 24 hours.
Infection: Sometimes, when our body is infected by germs or viruses, infected cells might just die to help stop the infection from spreading. In cases of viral infections, around 30% to 70% of the infected cells may undergo apoptosis to limit how much the virus can replicate.
All these environmental stressors interact with different pathways inside the cells, leading to either intrinsic or extrinsic processes of apoptosis. This is important for understanding how diseases progress and develop.