Table 1.

Comparisons between necroptosis and apoptosis.

Necroptosis	Apoptosis
Morphological markers
Plasma membrane swelling and rupture; Cytoplasm swelling and vacuolization; No nuclear fragmentation; Mitochondria and organelle swelling	Plasma membrane blebbing; Cytoplasm fragmentation; apoptotic body formation; Nuclear condensation and fragmentation; Organelle fragmentation
Biochemical markers
ATP depletion; ROS production; Calcium and sodium influx	ATP increase; ROS production; Mitochondria outer membrane permeabilization
Molecular markers
Signaling by RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL; Regulation by death receptors; Inhibition by caspases; Random DNA degradation; Extracellular release of DAMPs, such as mitochondrial DNA and HMGB1	Signaling by the Bcl-2 family proteins; Regulation by death receptors; Caspase activation; DNA digestion by endonucleases; Cytosolic release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, SMAC and AIF