Fig. 1: Trogocytosis and trogoptosis.
From: Trogocytosis-mediated immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment
a Phagocytes engulf their target cells, leading to the lysis of the engulfed cells via phagocytosis. b In contrast, trogocytosis is a distinct cellular process in which one cell “nibbles” at another during cell-to-cell contact. This nibbling affects the membrane properties. Importantly, the transferred molecules retain their membrane localization and functions. The nibbling cell acquires functional membrane molecules, whereas the nibbled cell loses portions of its membrane and attaches to the cytosol. Substantial loss of the plasma membrane can lead to apoptosis, a process referred to as trogoptosis.
