Caspase

Caspases are a family of protease enzymes playing a pivotal role in the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and inflammation. They are essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and are involved in the dismantling of the cell by cleaving specific substrates, leading to apoptosis. Caspases are thus crucial targets in research aimed at treating diseases characterized by excessive or insufficient cell death, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Targeting caspases can either enhance their activity to promote the death of cancer cells or inhibit them to prevent inappropriate cell death in diseases like Alzheimer's. Developing drugs that modulate caspase activity offers therapeutic potential for a range of serious health conditions.