TABLE 2.

Differences between apoptosis and necrosis.

Characteristics	Apoptosis	Necrosis
Type of cell death	Controlled cell death	Uncontrolled cell death
Cytoplasmic contents	Contents of the cells are not released into the surrounding environment for engulfment by macrophages	Release of cellular contents into the surrounding environment
Process	Apoptosis initiation depends on the activation of a sequence of caspases	Involves numerous pro-inflammatory factors, including proteins such as nuclear factor ĸB, leading to disruption of the cell membrane
Morphology	1. Cell shrinkage	1. Cell swelling
	2. Condensation of chromatin	2. Formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles
	3. Formation of apoptotic bodies	3. Detachment of ribosomes
	4. No occurrence of inflammation	4. Condensation; swelling and rupture of mitochondria, lysosomes, and organelle membranes
		5. Inflammation