Caspase-3 in the central nervous system: beyond apoptosis

Trends Neurosci. 2012 Nov;35(11):700-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2012.06.004. Epub 2012 Jul 14.

Abstract

Caspase-3 has been identified as a key mediator of neuronal programmed cell death. This protease plays a central role in the developing nervous system and its activation is observed early in neural tube formation and persists during postnatal differentiation of the neural network. Caspase-3 activation, a crucial event of neuronal cell death program, is also a feature of many chronic neurodegenerative diseases. This traditional apoptotic function of caspase-3 is challenged by recent studies that reveal new cell death-independent roles for mitochondrial-activated caspase-3 in neurite pruning and synaptic plasticity. These findings underscore the need for further research into the mechanism of action and functions of caspase-3 that may prove useful in the development of novel pharmacological treatments for a diverse range of neurological disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / enzymology
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / physiology
  • Caspase 3 / physiology*
  • Caspase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Caspase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / enzymology
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Long-Term Synaptic Depression / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / enzymology
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Nerve Net / embryology
  • Nerve Net / enzymology
  • Nerve Net / growth & development
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Nervous System / embryology
  • Nervous System / enzymology*
  • Nervous System / growth & development
  • Neural Tube / physiology
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Parkinson Disease / enzymology
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3