Fig. 1

Schematic diagram describing the morphological and biochemical differences between apoptosis and necroptosis. Apoptotic cells are characterized by plasma membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, organelle fragmentation, chromatin condensation, cleavage of chromosomal DNA and the formation of apoptotic bodies without rupture of the plasma membrane, and apoptotic cells show low emission of DAMPs. Necroptotic cells share some morphological features to apoptotic cells, resembling necrosis including cell swelling, plasma membrane rupture, translucent cytosol, and organelle dilation, and necroptotic cells are associated with the abundant release of DAMPs. At the biochemical level, apoptosis and necroptosis have different intracellular molecular mechanisms as described, and they can be specifically blocked by various types of inhibitors