What is a Burst Cell?
A "burst cell" isn't a single, universally defined biological entity. The term "burst" in a cellular context refers to a sudden, rapid increase or release of something. Therefore, "burst cell" describes a cell exhibiting such a burst in a particular activity or process. This could refer to several different phenomena:
Several different biological contexts use the term "burst":
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Cells undergoing cytolysis (bursting due to osmotic imbalance): As described in Wikipedia's Cytolysis page, cytolysis, or osmotic lysis, occurs when a cell bursts due to excess water entering it, causing a rupture of the cell membrane. This is a destructive burst.
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Cells exhibiting a sudden increase in activity: Some cells display a rapid, temporary increase in specific functions. Examples include:
- Proliferative burst in T cells: Studies on CD8+ T cells describe a "proliferative burst" following PD-1 blockade, indicating a sudden surge in cell division.
- Glycolytic burst in endothelial cells: Research indicates a "glycolytic burst" in motile endothelial cells, referring to a rapid increase in glycolysis (Single-cell metabolic imaging reveals a SLC2A3-dependent glycolytic burst in motile endothelial cells).
- Neural activity bursts: In neuroscience, "bursting" often refers to patterns of neuronal firing. Scholarpedia's article on Bursting mentions "fast rhythmic bursting (FRB) cells" in the cortex, demonstrating patterned neuronal activity. This relates to the concept of "burst" as a sudden intense period of activity.
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Cells releasing substances in a burst: The term can also describe cells releasing a substance rapidly:
- Burst release of encapsulated annexin A5: A study (Burst release of encapsulated annexin A5 in tumours boosts antitumour immunity) refers to the rapid release of a drug from a delivery system within cancer cells, leading to an enhanced immune response. This "burst" is controlled drug release, not a cell rupturing.
The meaning of "burst cell" depends heavily on the context. It's crucial to consider the specific biological process being described to understand what "burst" signifies.
