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Updated: May 5, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila
Published on: November 27, 2016
It cuts both ways: reconciling the dual roles of caspase 8 in cell death and survival
Andrew Oberst1, Douglas R Green
1Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.
Abstract:
Caspase 8 can initiate apoptosis, but it also has non-apoptotic roles; for example, it is required for embryonic development and immune cell proliferation. Recent work has indicated that the requirement for caspase 8 in development and immune cell proliferation is defined by suppression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), a kinase that triggers an alternative form of cell death called programmed necrosis. Interestingly, these recent findings can be reconciled with earlier work on the non-apoptotic roles of caspase 8.
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