[Apoptosis and necrosis: interrelation of the phenomena].

Cell death types in the multicellular organism may be divided into two groups: (1) natural cell death--programmed, or apoptotic cell death, which involves the activity of regulatory factors including genetic mechanisms, and (2) occasional (pathologic) death, encompassing numerous types of death that result from the severe cell injuries, caused by damaging factors and which are incompatible with cell life. It is suggested that the term "necrosis" should be applied to describe the process of cell destruction and fragmentation within the living organism, following any type of its death. For the cells, that have died by the mechanism of apoptosis, the period of necrosis is usually short and seems to correspond to the duration of apoptotic body existence. In some cases, specific apoptotic bodies may persist for a longer intervals, performing important functions in the organism (epidermal cornified scales, platelets etc.).