Necrotaxis embodies a special type of
chemotaxis when the
chemoattractant molecules are released from
necrotic or
apoptotic cells.
Investigations of necrotaxis proved that ability to sense substances released from dying cells is present in unicellular level (e.g.
Paramecium) as well as in
(see interactions of
with corpse of dead cells). Composition of the substances inducing necrotaxis is rather complex, some of them are still obscure. However, depending on the chemical character of molecules released, necrotaxis can accumulate or repel cells,
which underlines the pathophysiological significance of the phenomenon.
Model experiments of necrotaxis deal with special way of killing the target cells. For this purpose
laser irradiation is used frequently. Several
mathematical models are also available to describe the special locomotor characteristics of this migratory response of cells.
