Autophagy is your cells’ recycling system, wrapping damaged components in membrane bubbles and delivering them to specialised cleanup centres. This cellular housekeeping process prevents the molecular chaos that would otherwise overwhelm biological systems.
Senescent cells stop dividing but remain alive, secreting inflammatory signals that damage surrounding tissue. These “zombie cells” accumulate with age and contribute to tissue dysfunction, though they originally evolved as cancer protection.
When immune cells encounter pathogens, they unleash oxidative bursts that flood invaders with highly reactive molecules like hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid. This cellular chemical warfare can tear apart bacterial walls and viral proteins within seconds of detection.