Lymphocyte life and death: the caspase-8 connection.
Caspase-8 plays an important role in death receptor-mediated apoptosis. In contrast to its apoptotic function, recent studies have suggested caspase-8 also plays a role in the immune response, as caspase-8 is essential for lymphocyte proliferation in response to antigen stimulation. In the March 2005 issue of Science (2005; 307:1465-8), Su et al. provide compelling evidence supporting a role for caspase-8 in antigen receptor-induced NF-kappaB activation. They identified caspase-8 as an essential component in the activation of the IKK complex, linking IKK to the upstream Bcl10-MALT1 complex. Intriguingly, they demonstrated that it is not only the physical presence of caspase-8, but rather enzymatic activity that is required for the activation of NF-kappaB.
Tang
Jun
J
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Kawadler
Holli
H
Yang
Xiaolu
X
D017209:Apoptosis; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016328:NF-kappa B; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D020169:Caspases