It cuts both ways: reconciling the dual roles of caspase 8 in cell death and survival.
Caspase 8 can initiate apoptosis, but it also has non-apoptotic roles; for example, it is required for embryonic development and immune cell proliferation. Recent work has indicated that the requirement for caspase 8 in development and immune cell proliferation is defined by suppression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), a kinase that triggers an alternative form of cell death called programmed necrosis. Interestingly, these recent findings can be reconciled with earlier work on the non-apoptotic roles of caspase 8.
Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee         38105, USA.
Andrew
A
Oberst
Douglas R
DR
Green
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000502:physiology; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D054875:Ubiquitination
D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D053181:Caspase 8