What are the differences between apoptosis and ferroptosis?

Basis of differentiation 

Apoptosis 

Ferroptosis 

Definition 

Is a form of regulated cell death that intentionally eliminates unnecessary or damaged cells from the body, helping to maintain homeostasis in multicellular organisms

Is a form of regulated cell death that is characterized by elevated levels of intracellular iron and ROS and reduced levels of antioxidants

Causes/Triggers

Occurs when cells reach maximum cell division

Occurs when lipid peroxides build up to toxic levels leading to oxidative damage to cell membranes

Morphological characteristics

• Cell rounding
• Blebbing of plasma membrane
• Reduction of cellular volume
• Condensed fragmented nucleus
• Fragmented DNA
• Condensed chromatin
• No significant changes in mitochondrial structure
  

• Shrunken mitochondria with condensed mitochondrial membrane densities
• Reduction or absence of mitochondrial crista 
• Ruptured outer mitochondrial membrane rupture
• Normal nuclear size 
• No chromatin condensation

Biochemical features

Is characterized by activation of Caspase pathway, DNA fragmentation, and degradation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential protein

Is characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation, leading to damage from iron-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Key genes 

• Caspase
• Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2)
• p53(tumor protein p53)
• Bax (Bcl-2 Associated X-protein)

• Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2)
• SLC7A11 (solute carrier family 7 member 11)
• TFR1(Transferrin receptor 1)
• GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase-4)