caspase-8及其研究进展

Caspase-8 and its advances in related studies

细胞凋亡是细胞生理性自主死亡的过程,一组被称为caspase的蛋白酶蛋白水解系统是该过程的核心。Fas(APO-1/CD95)是一种跨细胞膜受体,其活化后会引发细胞凋亡。在Fas引发的凋亡过程中一系列caspase级联式地活化,其中caspase-8的活化是其第一步反应。活化后的caspase-8会引发包括caspase-9在内的下游caspase活化,进而诱导细胞凋亡。caspase-8与人类的诸多疾病及损伤的病理变化有关,如癌症、神经退化性疾病、寄生虫病及创伤等。随着对caspase-8的结构、功能和调控等方面研究的不断深入,将会发现更多有关caspase-8的生物学作用。

The central component of this machinery is a proteolytic system involving a family of proteases called caspases. Fas （ APO - 1/CD95 ） is a transmembrane receptor protein which induces apoptosis upon activation. In apoptosis triggered by Fas, a subset of caspases is activated. Among them, caspases - 8 （FLICE/MACH） is the first step in the cascade of apoptotic events induced by Fas. Cleavaged caspase - 8 then activates other downstream caspases including caspase - 9, thereby commiting the cell to undergo apoptosis. Many studies show that caspase - 8 is related to the pathogenesis of certain diseases and injuries such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, parasitosis, trauma and so on in human beings. With the continuous researches in the structure, function and regulation of caspase - 8, more aspects on caspase -8 and its biological functions will be understood. [