High-throughput screening for cell death inducers and inhibitors.

High-throughput screening (HTS) has become an essential tool for identifying potential inducers and inhibitors of programmed cell death (PCD), a process crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating various physiological and pathological conditions. The dysregulation of cell death pathways is implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. This protocol focuses on utilizing HTS to uncover novel small molecules and proteins that modulate cell death pathways, providing valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. Through cell-based assays, biochemical methods, and advanced data analysis techniques, HTS enables the rapid identification of compounds that either induce or inhibit key cell death processes. Despite decades of research, many aspects of cell death remain inadequately understood, highlighting the continued need for exploration. Integrating HTS with genome-wide screening offers a powerful approach to accelerate the discovery of therapeutic candidates that target abnormal cell death regulation in diseases, providing new avenues for drug development.