Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila
13:21

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

Published on: November 27, 2016

Natural cellular inhibitors of caspases

Andréa C LeBlanc1

  • 1Department of Neurology, The Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, H3T 1E2, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. andrea.leblanc@mcgill.ca

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|March 27, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Cell death regulation involves complex caspase pathways. This review details natural inhibitors, focusing on Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAP) and other factors, that control cell destruction.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cell death, particularly apoptosis, is critical in disease pathogenesis.
  • Caspase activation is a central event in many apoptotic pathways.
  • Complex regulatory mechanisms govern cell survival and death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review natural cellular anticaspase factors.
  • To highlight inhibitors preventing irreversible cell destruction.
  • To detail the characteristics, regulation, and mechanisms of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAP) and other caspase inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific articles on caspase regulation and inhibition.
  • Analysis of known natural cellular anticaspase factors.
  • Description of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAP) and non-IAP inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Caspase activation is a key regulator of apoptosis.
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAP) are a major class of caspase inhibitors.
  • Other factors like Bcl-2 family proteins, heat shock proteins, and phosphoinositides also inhibit caspases.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding caspase inhibition is crucial for disease research.
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAP) play a significant role in regulating cell death.
  • Diverse non-IAP factors contribute to the complex network of caspase inhibition.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death10:23

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death

Published on: January 20, 2023

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry05:29

Measuring Caspase Activity Using a Fluorometric Assay or Flow Cytometry

Published on: March 24, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...