Figure 1
From: Essential versus accessory aspects of cell death: recommendations of the NCCD 2015
Types of cell death. Cells exposed to extreme physical, chemical or mechanical stimuli succumb in a completely uncontrollable manner, reflecting the immediate loss of structural integrity. We refer to such instances of cellular demise with the term ‘accidental cell death’ (ACD). Alternatively, cell death can be initiated by a genetically encoded machinery. The course of such ‘regulated cell death’ (RCD) variants can be influenced, at least to some extent, by specific pharmacologic or genetic interventions. The term ‘programmed cell death’ (PCD) is used to indicate RCD instances that occur as part of a developmental program or to preserve physiologic adult tissue homeostasis
