Apoptosis is characterized by a variety of changes resulting in the recognition and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Caspases (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases) play a central role in the regulation of apoptosis in the human seminiferous epithelium. They are expressed as inactive proenzymes and participate in a cascade triggered in response to pro-apoptotic signals. To date, 14 caspases have been implicated in the human apoptotic pathway cascade. Among these, caspase-3 is considered to be a major executioner protease. Since apoptosis is a universal suicide system in almost all cells, a close control via molecular, endocrine and physical factors establishes homeostasis of cell growth and death. The proper regulation of the caspase cascade plays an important role in sperm differentiation and testicular maturity. However, caspases have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple andrological pathologies such as impaired spermatogenesis, decreased sperm motility and increased levels of sperm DNA fragmentation, testicular torsion, varicocele and immunological infertility. Future research may provide a better understanding of the regulation of caspases, which may help us to manipulate the apoptotic machinery for therapeutic benefits. In this review, we summarize the consequences of caspase activation, aiming to clarify their role in the pathogenesis of male infertility.

中文翻译：

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半胱天冬酶在男性不育症中的作用。

凋亡的特征在于多种变化，导致凋亡细胞的识别和吞噬作用。Caspases（半胱氨酸天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶）在人类生精上皮细胞凋亡的调节中起着核心作用。它们表达为无活性的酶，并参与对促凋亡信号的响应而触发的级联反应。迄今为止，已经在人类凋亡途径级联中涉及14个胱天蛋白酶。其中，caspase-3被认为是主要的执行蛋白酶。由于凋亡是几乎所有细胞中通用的自杀系统，因此通过分子，内分泌和物理因素的严格控制建立了细胞生长和死亡的体内平衡。caspase级联的正确调节在精子分化和睾丸成熟中起重要作用。然而，半胱天冬酶已经涉及多种男科病理学的发病机理，例如精子发生受损，精子活动性降低和精子DNA片段化水平升高，睾丸扭转，精索静脉曲张和免疫性不育。未来的研究可能会更好地了解caspase的调控，这可能有助于我们操纵凋亡机制以获得治疗益处。在这篇综述中，我们总结了胱天蛋白酶激活的后果，旨在阐明其在男性不育症发病中的作用。未来的研究可能会更好地了解caspase的调控，这可能有助于我们操纵凋亡机制以获得治疗益处。在这篇综述中，我们总结了胱天蛋白酶激活的后果，旨在阐明其在男性不育症发病中的作用。未来的研究可能会更好地了解caspase的调控，这可能有助于我们操纵凋亡机制以获得治疗益处。在这篇综述中，我们总结了胱天蛋白酶激活的后果，旨在阐明其在男性不育症发病中的作用。