The formation of the 'footprint of death' as a mechanism for generating large substrate-bound extracellular vesicles that mark the site of cell death.

ABSTRACT: Apoptotic cells communicate to phagocytic cells through releasing soluble factors and apoptotic cell-derived extracellular vesicles. However, whether there are additional factors that remain attached at the site of cell death to signal to phagocytic cells is currently unknown. Here we show that apoptotic cell retraction generates a membrane-encased, F-actin-rich 'footprint' tightly anchored to the substrate that marks the site of cell death, coined 'the FOotprint Of Death' or FOOD. Formation of FOOD is observed frequently across many different cell types, apoptotic stimuli and surface composition. Mechanistically, FOOD formation is regulated by the protein kinase ROCK1. 3D time-lapse microscopy studies revealed that FOOD vesicularises into distinct large extracellular vesicles. These extra

SUBMITTER: Rutter SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12528690 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature