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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death
Published on: January 20, 2023
Effects of functionally diverse calpain system on immune cells
Yueqi Chen1,2, Zhaoliang Su1,2, Fang Liu3
1International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
Calpains are a family of nonlysosomal cysteine proteases, which play important roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Locations of them dictates the functions so that they are classified as ubiquitously expressed calpains and tissue-specific calpains. Recent studies are mainly focused on conventional calpains (calpain-1,2) in development and diseases, and increasing people pay attention to other subtypes of calpains but may not been summarized appropriately. Growing evidence suggests that calpains are also involved in immune regulation. However, seldom articles review the regulation of calpains on immune cells. The aim of this article is to review the research progress of each calpain isozyme and the effect of calpains on immune cells, especially the promotion effect of calpains on the immune response of macrophage, neutrophils, dendritic cells, mast cells, natural killed cells, and lymphocytes. These effects would hold great promise for the clinical application of calpains as a practicable therapeutic option in the treatment of immune related diseases.
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