Opinion - Death-defying immunity: do apoptotic cells influence antigen processing and presentation?

The clearance of apoptotic cells has been paid much attention for its role not only in tissue homeostasis, but also as a source of antigen for immune tolerance and activation. The complexity of this process has been borne out by the many receptor families and signalling pathways involved; however, an important aspect of the biology has so far been overlooked. This article explores the possible immunological instructions that are delivered by dying cells, as influenced by the specific execution pathways that are active during programmed cell death.