Abstract

Caspases are responsible for crucial aspects of inflammation and immune-cell death that are disrupted in a number of genetic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. The caspase family of proteases can be divided into pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory members based on their substrate specificity and participation in separate signalling cascades. However, as discussed here, evidence has emerged over the past few years that a number of the caspases thought to be involved solely in apoptosis also contribute to specific aspects of immune-cell development, activation and differentiation, and can even protect cells from some forms of cell death.

Author affiliations

1. Immunoregulation Unit, Autoimmunity Branch, NIAMS, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Room 9N238, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
   Email: rsiegel@nih.gov

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