What Mechanisms Underlie the Recognition of Cells to be Cleared?
The recognition of cells to be cleared involves several mechanisms, including the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, alterations in glycosylation patterns, and the expression of specific ligands for phagocytic receptors. Additionally, "find-me" signals like ATP and lysophosphatidylcholine guide macrophages to the site of apoptotic cells.
