Apoptosis (host cell apoptosis)

Host cell apoptosis refers to the genetically regulated process whereby a host cell undergoes programmed cell death, characterized by membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and formation of apoptotic bodies that are phagocytosed without provoking inflammation[2][1][3][4][5]. It is triggered via intrinsic (mitochondrial) or extrinsic (death receptor-mediated) pathways in response to cellular stress, DNA damage, or external signals[1][2][4]. “Host cell apoptosis” is a process critical to development, immune regulation, and maintenance of cellular homeostasis; its dysregulation is implicated in cancer, infections, and degenerative diseases[2][1][5]. Some therapeutic strategies seek to manipulate apoptosis in disease contexts, but “host cell apoptosis” itself is not a molecular target. In summary, "host cell apoptosis" is not a target molecule/comparable to a receptor and should not be treated as such in structured databases. Rather, it is a process or phenotype governed by many protein targets (e.g., caspases, Bcl-2 family, death receptors)[2][1].

Other names

Programmed cell deathPCDapoptotic process