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Caspases as master regulators of programmed cell death: apoptosis, pyroptosis and beyond

So Hee Dho1, Minjeong Cho1, Wonjin Woo1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Experimental & Molecular Medicine
|June 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Caspases are key enzymes regulating programmed cell death pathways like apoptosis. Understanding their complex regulation and roles in diseases such as cancer offers new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Caspases are essential proteases that orchestrate programmed cell death.
  • Their activity is tightly regulated by epigenetic, molecular, and post-translational mechanisms.
  • Dysregulation of caspases is implicated in cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current knowledge on caspase functions and regulation.
  • To provide a foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting caspases.
  • To explore caspase roles across subcellular compartments and their molecular interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on caspases.
  • Analysis of caspase involvement in various cell death modalities (apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis).
  • Examination of regulatory mechanisms including epigenetic modifications and post-translational changes.

Main Results:

  • Caspases are central to multiple cell death pathways, crucial for homeostasis.
  • Complex regulatory networks control caspase activity.
  • Aberrant caspase function is a hallmark of numerous pathologies.

Conclusions:

  • Caspases are critical effectors of programmed cell death with diverse functions.
  • Targeting caspases presents a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention in various diseases.
  • Further research into caspase regulation and interactions can unlock innovative treatment strategies.

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