If the plasma membrane ruptures or breaks down, it leads to cell death due to a failure in material exchange, disruption of cellular functions, and loss of protoplasmic material
. Plasma membrane rupture is the terminal event in many forms of cell death
. What happens if the plasma membrane ruptures:
- Failure of material exchange The cell is unable to control the movement of substances, which means that essential nutrients, ions, and water may no longer enter the cell, and waste products may not be effectively removed
- Disruption of cellular functions The inability to exchange materials leads to a disruption in cellular functions, so the cell cannot maintain homeostasis, which is vital for its survival, affecting metabolic processes and overall cell health
- Loss of protoplasmic material If the plasma membrane is compromised, the protoplasmic material can leak out, leading to a loss of cellular components necessary for life
- Cell death If the plasma membrane ruptures and the cell cannot perform its necessary functions, the cell will die because the essential processes that sustain life within the cell can no longer occur
Plasma membrane rupture can be an active process mediated by specific membrane proteins like ninjurin-1 (NINJ1)
. Inadequate repair responses can also tip the balance between physiology and pathology, highlighting the significance of plasma membrane integrity
. Extensive dyshomeostasis can result in calcium toxicity, activation of proteolysis, osmotic stress, and oxidative damage, eventually leading to cell death
