Abstract

Programmed cell death plays a role in development, immune function, and homeostasis across the tree of life. Apoptosis is the most common form of programmed cell death in animals and results in the organized degradation of cellular components. The death of these cells is characterized by cytoplasmic shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and plasma membrane blebbing or bulges in the membrane due to cytoskeleton breakdown. It was previously assumed that apoptosis is irreversible once triggered. However, it has now been discovered that there are at least two different pathways for resurrection. One of these pathways is the blebbishield emergency program which results in apoptotic cancer stem cells resurrecting themselves. Ultimately, the fusion of apoptotic bodies results in a blebbishield and eventually a fully functional cell once more. In the other pathway, anastasis, resurrection occurs after short term exposure to an apoptotic stimulus. The mechanism behind these pathways has yet to be elucidated. Since these pathways have the same outcome, similarities can be identified and used to provide insight into one another. In this investigation, apoptotic body formation in anastasis was investigated using the blebbishield model and the prevalence of the blebbishield emergency program was investigated through anastasis.