Celleskade

Celleskade is the Dutch term for cellular injury or damage, describing functional and structural disruption of a cell caused by adverse conditions. It is used in biology and medicine to describe events that can be reversible if the stress is mild or transient, or progress to cell death if the stress persists.

Cellular injury arises from a range of causes, including hypoxia or ischemia, chemical or toxic exposures, infectious agents, immune-mediated damage, physical trauma, and oxidative stress. Common pathways involve energy depletion, disruption of ion and water balance, compromised membrane integrity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Calcium overload and activation of degradative enzymes further contribute to damage and cell fate.

In reversible injury, cells exhibit swelling, blebbing of the plasma membrane, and reduced metabolic activity, with the possibility of full recovery if the stress is removed. Irreversible injury leads to severe membrane damage, organelle disruption, and, depending on the context, necrosis or programmed cell death (apoptosis). Distinguishing these outcomes often relies on morphological changes under microscopy and, in clinical settings, biomarkers of tissue injury and imaging studies.

Clinical relevance centers on how cellular injury translates into tissue and organ dysfunction, with inflammation commonly accompanying necrosis and secondary damage. Detection and assessment focus on underlying causes, along with laboratory tests and imaging to gauge the extent of injury and prognosis.

Prevention and treatment aim to remove or mitigate the stressor, restore oxygen and nutrient delivery, and support organ function. In some contexts, antioxidants or cytoprotective strategies are explored, though effectiveness varies by tissue and situation. Understanding cell injury helps explain a wide range of diseases and guides diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.