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.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alzheimer Disease / enzymology
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Alzheimer Disease / pathology
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Animals
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Apoptosis / physiology
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / physiology
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Caspase 3 / physiology*
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Caspase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Caspase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Disease Models, Animal
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Embryonic Development / physiology
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Enzyme Activation
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Humans
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Huntington Disease / enzymology
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Huntington Disease / pathology
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Long-Term Synaptic Depression / physiology
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Mitochondria / enzymology
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Molecular Targeted Therapy
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Nerve Net / embryology
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Nerve Net / enzymology
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Nerve Net / growth & development
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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Nervous System / embryology
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Nervous System / enzymology*
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Nervous System / growth & development
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Neural Tube / physiology
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / enzymology*
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Parkinson Disease / enzymology
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Parkinson Disease / pathology
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology
Substances
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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CASP3 protein, human
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Caspase 3