ABSTRACT
Caspases constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of cysteinyl-dependent proteases that fulfill essential roles in apoptosis, inflammation, cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation, and act by aspartate-specific cleavage of a wide number of cellular substrates.1,2 Ten murine (caspase-1, -2, -3, -6, -7, -8, -9, -11, -12, -14) and eleven human (caspase-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -14) catalytically active caspases have been reported so far.3 They are synthesized as inactive proenzymes that
2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Arthritic Disorders ..........................................................................................23
