title: Old, new and emerging functions of caspases.
abstract: Caspases are proteases with a well-defined role in apoptosis. However, increasing evidence indicates multiple functions of caspases outside apoptosis. Caspase-1 and caspase-11 have roles in inflammation and mediating inflammatory cell death by pyroptosis. Similarly, caspase-8 has dual role in cell death, mediating both receptor-mediated apoptosis and in its absence, necroptosis. Caspase-8 also functions in maintenance and homeostasis of the adult T-cell population. Caspase-3 has important roles in tissue differentiation, regeneration and neural development in ways that are distinct and do not involve any apoptotic activity. Several other caspases have demonstrated anti-tumor roles. Notable among them are caspase-2, -8 and -14. However, increased caspase-2 and -8 expression in certain types of tumor has also been linked to promoting tumorigenesis. Increased levels of caspase-3 in tumor cells causes apoptosis and secretion of paracrine factors that promotes compensatory proliferation in surrounding normal tissues, tumor cell repopulation and presents a barrier for effective therapeutic strategies. Besides this caspase-2 has emerged as a unique caspase with potential roles in maintaining genomic stability, metabolism, autophagy and aging. The present review focuses on some of these less studied and emerging functions of mammalian caspases.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shalini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dorstyn
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D020169:Caspases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020169:Caspases