Caspase-1 inflammasomes: choosing between death and taxis

moonshine submitted, created time 1 year 4 months (www.nature.com)

Among the arsenal of the innate immune system are the Nod-like receptors (NLRs), which detect intracellular pathogens or other 'alarms' and participate in the formation of the inflammasome, an oligomeric platform that dimerizes and thereby activates caspase-1. The caspase, in turn, processes pro-IL1 and pro-IL18, key cytokines for the recruitment and engagement of inflammatory cells (hence, 'taxis'). But the activation of caspase-1 can also trigger a form of cell death with characteristics of necrosis and apoptosis that has been called 'pyroptosis'

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: Caspase-1 Activation caspase-14 protein initiator caspase caspase B-cell activation innate immune system Cell death

Activation of Initiator Caspases: History, Hypotheses, and Perspectives

MedUnion submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.mupnet.com)

Apoptosis is executed by a cascade of caspase activation. Activation of an effector caspase is mediated by specific initiator caspases through an intra-chain cleavage. Activation of an initiator caspase, such as caspase-9, relies on a specific adaptor protein complex, such as apoptosome. Although conclusive mechanisms by which the initiator caspases are activated remain elusive, important insights have emerged from recent investigations. The induced proximity model summarizes the general process of initiator caspase activation

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: initiator caspase apoptosis apoptosome DISC