PREFACE for apoptosis manual
In the last few years,the mechanisms underlying the process of apoptosis have attracted
the interest of a continuously growing number of scientists
in every field of biology, including immunology. Many different technical
approaches can be followed to study the phenomenon of apoptosis, depending
on the biological system under analysis, the type of results that are sought,
the available instrumentation, and so on. Ideally, more than one
technique should be used in parallel, as each experimental approach is
suited for studying a particular aspect of the complex phenomenon of
apoptosis.
This manual is part of the technical handbook series published by the
Cooperation Group in Immunology (Gruppo di Cooperazione in Immunologia,
GCI) over the years to introduce young immunologists to specific
technical fields necessary for their investigations. Indeed, the manual is
intended for those investigators who begin to approach the study of
apoptotic mechanisms and feel the need for a series of easy-to-follow
protocols to address the different aspects of the apoptotic phenomenon.
Protocols have been rather arbitrarily grouped into four sections, devoted
respectively to the study of the entire cell (mainly morphological
approaches), to the study of nuclear changes, to the analysis of
cytoplasmic changes (cytoskeleton, organelles, enzymes), and finally to
the study of plasma membrane alterations. They have been prepared so as
to be easily followed by anyone who, with a background in cell
biology techniques, wishes to approach for the first time the study of
apoptosis.
Relevant information is provided on the applicability of each method, the
material necessary for its application, the practical details of the
procedure, the problems which could arise and suggestions for their
solution. The authors of the various protocols are among the most expert
italian investigators in the field.
Althought necessarily incomplete and fragmentary, to reflect the complexity
of the fast-growing field of apoptosis, we still hope that this manual
can be of help not only for immunologists,to whom it is primarily
directed, but for all those who like to approach the practical problems of
studying apoptosis.
