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Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation
08:47

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Published on: March 5, 2018

Caspase-activation pathways in apoptosis and immunity

Emma M Creagh1, Helen Conroy, Seamus J Martin

  • 1Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory,Department of Genetics,The Smurfit Institute, Trinity College,Dublin, Ireland.

Immunological Reviews
|May 20, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Caspases, or cysteine proteases, are key in apoptosis (programmed cell death) and immune responses. This review details caspase activation pathways in both apoptosis and inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Caspases are cysteine proteases crucial for apoptosis (programmed cell death).
  • They exist as inactive zymogens, activated during cellular dismantling.
  • Some caspases, like caspase-1, are involved in immune responses and cytokine maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of caspase activation mechanisms.
  • To explore the distinct roles of caspases in apoptosis versus inflammatory pathways.
  • To elucidate the signaling cascades involving caspase activation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of established apoptosis-associated pathways.
  • Analysis of caspase roles in immune signaling and cytokine maturation.
  • Discussion of current research on caspase activation contexts.

Main Results:

  • Three primary apoptosis-associated pathways for caspase activation are known.
  • Caspase-1 activation is linked to pro-inflammatory cytokine maturation (e.g., IL-1beta, IL-18), not apoptosis.
  • Caspases play distinct roles in programmed cell death and immune system signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Caspase activation is a critical regulatory mechanism in both cell death and immunity.
  • Understanding these pathways is vital for comprehending cellular homeostasis and disease.
  • Further research into caspase function can reveal therapeutic targets.

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