Caspase inhibitors in prevention of apoptosis

Apoptosis, a morphological distinct form of programmed cell death, is a cru cial process during development, the maintenance of cell homeostasis and th e regulation of the immune system. A variety of diseases have been found to correlate with physiological apoptosis including cancer, autoimmune diseas e, viral infection and degenerative disorders. Although very different signals initiate apoptosis, the phenotype of apopto sis is surprisingly similar even in different cell types suggesting that th e final stages of apoptotic death are highly conserved. The execution of th e death program is coordinated by a recently identified class of cysteine p roteases termed caspases. The finding that caspases are mainly involved in regulation of this conserv ed part of the death program has boosted the search for caspase inhibitors which might offer a therapeutic approach to treat apoptotic disorders. Synt hetic peptide inhibitors have been developed which exhibit Some selectivity for the different caspases. In the last years several natural inhibitors h ave been discovered which either prevent caspase activation or caspase acti vity. This review will present the recent advances and discuss the potentia l of caspase inhibitors as future therapeutics.