title: Paracrine control of tissue regeneration and cell proliferation by Caspase-3.
abstract: Executioner caspases such as Caspase-3 and Caspase-7 have long been recognised as the key proteases involved in cell demolition during apoptosis. Caspase activation also modulates signal transduction inside cells, through activation or inactivation of kinases, phosphatases and other signalling molecules. Interestingly, a series of recent studies have demonstrated that caspase activation may also influence signal transduction and gene expression changes in neighbouring cells that themselves did not activate caspases. This review describes the physiological relevance of paracrine Caspase-3 signalling for developmental processes, tissue homeostasis and tissue regeneration, and discusses the role of soluble factors and microparticles in mediating these paracrine activities. While non-cell autonomous control of tissue regeneration by Caspase-3 may represent an important process for maintaining tissue homeostasis, it may limit the efficiency of current cancer therapy by promoting cell proliferation in those cancer cells resistant to radio- or chemotherapy. We discuss recent evidence in support of such a role for Caspase-3, and discuss its therapeutic implication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: J H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Prehn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3