The starry sky appearance seen under low power is due to scattered tingible body-laden macrophages (macrophages containing dead body of apoptotic tumor cells).
It is controlled by regulators, which have either an inhibitory effect on programmed cell death (anti-apoptotic) or block the protective effect of inhibitors (pro-apoptotic).
C1q is also involved in other immunological processes such as enhancement of bacterial phagocytosis, clearance of apoptotic cells or neutralisation of virus.