Authors: Swastik R Mishra, Mohit M Jadhav, Aniket A Singh, Trushal S Singh, Kajal R Yadav, Vaibhavi B Sange
Abstract: Cell injury and adaptation are key processes that influence a cell's fate when faced with stress and underlie numerous pathological conditions. Long considered crucial in pathology, understanding these mechanisms is increasingly important for addressing human diseases and advancing therapies. Cell injury can be classified as either reversible or irreversible and categorized as acute or chronic, with causes that include ischemia, toxins, infections, and trauma. Key mechanisms involve ATP depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, calcium imbalance, endoplasmic reticulum stress, membrane damage, and DNA/protein alterations, leading to specific morphological and biochemical changes such as cellular swelling and enzyme release.The transition from injury to cell death occurs through various mechanisms, such as necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Meanwhile, adaptive responses like hypertrophy, hyperplasia, atrophy, and metaplasia can help cells endure stress but may lead to disease if they become unregulated. This relationship between injury and adaptation is prominent in conditions like myocardial infarction, strokes, chronic liver disease, and cancer. Recent clinical studies have identified biomarkers such as troponins and LDH, and treatments now focus on addressing oxidative stress, maintaining mitochondrial function, and resolving ER stress.Innovative strategies are being developed in gene editing, stem cell treatments, and nanomedicine. Future outlooks highlight the importance of omics profiling, systems biology, and tailored medicine for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. Grasping the equilibrium between cellular damage and adaptation is key to connecting fundamental mechanisms with disease development and new therapies.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17774459
