Methuosis: nonapoptotic cell death associated with vacuolization of macropinosome and endosome compartments.

ABSTRACT: Apoptosis is the most widely recognized form of physiological programmed cell death. During the past three decades, various nonapoptotic forms of cell death have gained increasing attention, largely because of their potential importance in pathological processes, toxicology, and cancer therapy. A recent addition to the panoply of cell death phenotypes is methuosis. The neologism is derived from the Greek methuo (to drink to intoxication) because the hallmark of this form of cell death is displacement of the cytoplasm by large fluid-filled vacuoles derived from macropinosomes. The demise of the cell resembles many forms of necrosis, insofar as there is a loss of metabolic capacity and plasma membrane integrity, without the cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation associated with apoptosis.

SUBMITTER: Maltese WA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4044715 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature