Table 1.

The main morphological and biochemical features of regulated cell deaths (adapted from Xie et al., 2016 [5] and Lie et al., 2020 [3]). MAPKs, mitogen-activated protein kinases; GSH, glutathione; DAMPs, damage-associated molecular patterns; PS, phosphatidylserine; PARP1, Poly [(ADP-ribose)] polymerase 1; LC3-I/II, Microtubule-associated protein light chain 3.

Cell Death	Morphological Features	Biochemical Features
Ferroptosis	No rupture of the plasma membrane [3] Rounding up of the cell [3] Small mitochondria, outer mitochondrial rupture, reduction of the cristae [3] Normal nuclear size and no chromatin condensation [3]	Iron and ROS overload Activation of MAPKs Inhibition of system Xc− and decreased cystine uptake GSH depletion Release of arachidonic acid mediators [3]
Apoptosis	Plasma membrane blebbing [3] Rounding up of the cell [3] Pseudopod retraction and reduction of cellular and nuclear volume [3] Nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation Formation of apoptotic bodies [3] No significant changes in mitochondrial structure [3]	Activation of caspases Oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation PS exposure [3]
Necroptosis	Rupture of the plasma membrane [3] Cytoplasmic swelling [3] Moderate chromatin condensation [5] Spillage of cellular constituents into microenvironment [3]	Decrease in ATP level Release DAMPs PARP1 hyperactivation [3]
Autophagy	Lack of change in the plasma membrane [3] Accumulation of autophagic vacuoles [3] Lack of chromatin condensation [5] Formation of double-membraned autolysosomes, including macroautophagy, microautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy [3]	LC3-I to LC3-II conversion [3] Substrate degradation [5]