Cell injury, Cell Death and Adaptations - Mechanisms of cell injury and cell death

8 important questions on Cell injury, Cell Death and Adaptations - Mechanisms of cell injury and cell death

During hypoxia, the cell can activate compensatory mechanisms which consit of transcription factors and growth factor. Name one of each.


TF: HIF-1  simulates the synthesis of several proteins that help the cell to survive in the face of low oxygen. Some of these proteins, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stimulate the growth of new vessels and thus attempt to increase blood flow
and the supply of oxygen.


Persistent or severe hypoxia and ischemia ultimately lead to failure of ATP generation and depletion of ATP in cells. What is the consequence of this on the ATP-dependent sodium pumps?


Reduced activity of plasma membrane ATP-dependent sodium pumps, resulting in intracellular accumulation of sodium and efflux of potassium. The net gain of solute is accompanied by isoosmotic gain of water, causing cell swelling and dilation of the ER.

What is Oxidative Stress and which molecules induce this?


Oxidative stress refers to cellular abnormalities that are
induced by ROS, which belong to a group of molecules
known as free radicals.
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When does ROS become pathogenic?

When ROS is accumulated it will have pathogenic effects such as Lipid peroxidation (Membrane damage), Protein modifications (Breakdown, misfolding), DNA damage (Mutations). The accumulation of ROS is determined by their rates of production and removal. The production of ROS is increased by many injurious stimuli.

ROS is also produced by phagocytic leukocytes. Which types and what is the function of the produced ROS in normal situations?


mainly neutrophils and macrophages. ROS functions as a weapon to destroy destroying ingested microbes and other substances during inflammation and host defense

Name the free radical scavengers

1. SOD
2. Glutathione (GSH) peroxidases
3. Catalase
4. Endogenous or exogenous anti-oxidants (e.g., vitamins E,
A, and C and β-carotene)

If there is Mild ER stress, the cell can induce a protective cellular response that is called the adaptive unfolded protein response. Describe how this reduces the load of misfolded proteins


This adaptive response activates signaling pathways that increase the production of chaperones, decrease protein synthesis, and increases protein degradation. This reduces the levels of misfolded proteins in the cell.

Describe the unfolded protein response when the cell has severe ER stress

The accumulation of the misfolded proteins is too much. This causes the cell to go in apoptosis (terminal unfolded protein response). Apoptosis is induced by signals that result in activation of proapoptotic sensors of the BH3-only family as well as direct activation of caspases, leading to apoptosis by the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway

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