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Find-me and eat-me signals in apoptotic cell clearance: progress and conundrums

2010; Rockefeller University Press; Volume: 207; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1084/jem.20101157

1540-9538

Kodi S. Ravichandran,

Immune cells in cancer

Everyday we turnover billions of cells. The quick, efficient, and immunologically silent disposal of the dying cells requires a coordinated orchestration of multiple steps, through which phagocytes selectively recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. Recent studies have suggested an important role for soluble mediators released by apoptotic cells that attract phagocytes (“find-me” signals). New information has also emerged on multiple receptors that can recognize phosphatidylserine, the key “eat-me” signal exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells. This perspective discusses recent exciting progress, gaps in our understanding, and the conflicting issues that arise from the newly acquired knowledge.