title: Targeting caspases in intracellular protozoan infections.
abstract: Caspases are cysteine aspartases acting either as initiators (caspases 8, 9, and 10) or executioners (caspases 3, 6, and 7) to induce programmed cell death by apoptosis. Parasite infections by certain intracellular protozoans increase host cell life span by targeting caspase activation. Conversely, caspase activation, followed by apoptosis of lymphocytes and other cells, prevents effective immune responses to chronic parasite infection. Here we discuss how pharmacological inhibition of caspases might affect the immunity to protozoan infections, by either blocking or delaying apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Landi V C
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Guillermo
authors.forename: Wânia F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Meis
authors.forename: Flavia L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Gomes
authors.forename: Elisabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kroll-Palhares
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Takiya
authors.forename: Marcela F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain