The signaling and regulatory functions of dying cells and cell corpses

Cells die extensively each day under physiological and pathological conditions, yet dying cells and cell corpses are not merely passive endpoints. Increasing evidence shows that they actively shape their microenvironment during death-program execution, signal release or exposure, corpse processing, and responses of neighboring cells and phagocytes. We here summarize six major roles of dying cells and cell corpses: promoting tissue turnover and remodeling, supporting neighboring-cell survival, mediating intercellular communication, providing metabolic substrates and rewiring phagocyte metabolism, facilitating corpse recognition and clearance, and modulating immune responses. Overall, they provide a broader framework for understanding cell death and identifying therapeutic opportunities. This Review summarizes how dying cells and cell corpses actively shape tissue remodeling, neighboring-cell survival, intercellular communication, phagocyte metabolism, corpse clearance and immune responses in physiology and disease.