It cuts both ways: reconciling the dual roles of caspase 8 in cell death and survival

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2011 Oct 21;12(11):757-63. doi: 10.1038/nrm3214.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / physiology
  • Caspase 8 / physiology*
  • Cell Death / physiology*
  • Cell Survival / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Models, Biological
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Caspase 8