Fig. 2
From: Cryoablation and immunotherapy: an overview of evidence on its synergy
One of the hypotheses of how cryoablation induces an immune response is in the way cell death is induced. Cryoablation induces cell death by both necrosis and apoptosis. Necrosis releases intra-cellular contents stimulating signals (among others danger signals) that may activate T cells for a specific immune response to the cryoablated tissue. Contrary, after cell death by apoptosis, only apoptotic bodies are released, without stimulating signals. Without these stimulating signals, T cells are not being activated. Therefore, apoptosis may lead to an immune-suppressing signal