Apoptosis detection modalities: A brief review

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a specific cellular event with distinct morphological, histological, molecular characteristics, and biochemical mechanisms. It plays an important role in normal turnover of the cell, development, and its function. Inadequate apoptosis (either too little or too much) is one of the major causes for various pathologies such as neurodegenerative disorders, ischemic, autoimmune diseases, and various forms of cancer. Since controlled apoptotic programs can produce changes in cell death pattern, the genes, and proteins that regulate apoptosis are potential future drug targets. Hence, detection of apoptotic cells will pave a new path for cancer diagnostics, prognosis, and therapy. The aim of this review article is to discuss various methods of apoptosis detection, from traditional approaches to recent advanced molecular methods.