The phagocytosis of apoptotic cells

Apoptosis is a genetically controlled event taking care of cell turnover in healthy adult tissues and of focal elimination of cells during embryonic d evelopment. The initial phase of the program leads to corpse generation and is followed by the equally crucial removal by phagocytes. In fact, engulfm ent is not mere clearing of cell remnants, but rather elicits phagocyte res ponses able to modulate inflammation and immune reactions. The combined inv estigation of nematode and mammalian models has allowed, in recent years, a fast progression in the field; however, effort is still required to dissec t thoroughly the molecular rules orchestrating engulfment.