Caspase 1
Caspase 1, also known as interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE), is a protease enzyme that plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis. It is part of the caspase family, a group of enzymes that are key mediators of programmed cell death and inflammation.
Caspase 1 is synthesized as an inactive zymogen that requires processing for activation. This processing can occur through several pathways, but it is most commonly activated within a multiprotein complex known as the inflammasome. The inflammasome facilitates the cleavage of pro-caspase 1 into its active form, which then goes on to process pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) into their active forms. These cytokines are crucial for the immune response, mediating fever, inflammation, and sepsis.
The regulation of caspase 1 and its activation within the inflammasome is a subject of intense research, as dysregulation of these processes is associated with a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Understanding the mechanisms controlling caspase 1 activation and function is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting these conditions.
Caspase 1 also plays a role in pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death that is distinct from apoptosis and is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cellular contents. Pyroptosis is considered a form of innate immune defense against microbial infections, but excessive or inappropriate activation can contribute to tissue damage and disease.
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD