Inflammatory caspases in innate immunity and inflammation

Amir S Yazdi1, Greta Guarda, Marthe C D'Ombrain

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.

Summary

Inflammatory caspases, like caspase-1, are crucial for innate immunity and apoptosis. They are activated in inflammasomes to process cytokines, impacting health and disease.

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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.
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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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Acute Inflammation I: Inflammatory Response

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Inflammatory Response

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Acute Inflammation II: Cellular Phase

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