The programmed death of a cell. This type of cell death

occurs by fragmentation of membranes that are then

eliminated.

Cellular suicide or programmed cell death. HIV may induce

apoptosis in both infected and uninfected immune system

cells. Normally when CD4 cells mature in the thymus gland,

a small proportion of these cells are unable to distinguish

self from nonself. Because these cells would otherwise

attack the body's own tissues, they receive a biochemical

signal from other cells that results in apoptosis