Caspases also known as Cysteine aspartic proteases belong to the family of cysteine proteases and play a critical role in necrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis. The caspases play a very important for the immune system and for lymphocyte maturation. Apoptosis failure leads to autoimmune diseases and tumour development.

 

A research by Burguillos et al shows that caspases play an important role in activation of microglia and neurotoxicity mediated by inflammation. It is known that microglia releases various pro-inflammatory factors which can be neurotoxic in nature. In this study, the researchers show that capsase-8 and caspase-3/7 regulate the activation of microglia through protein kinase C (PKC)-Delta-dependent pathway.

 

Microglia stimulation and activation activates caspase without triggering cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Microglia activation was hindered when the caspase was knocked down or inhibited through chemical inhibition. Various conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease showed that caspases were activated in the microglia in the frontal cortex and ventral mesencephalon respectively.

 

This study showed the involvement of caspase-8 and caspase-3/7 in activation of microglia along with a conclusion that its inhibition could result in protection of the neurons by targeting the microglia in place of neurons. Further studies can help in understanding of the roles of caspases in neurodegenerative disorders.