Caspases are an evolutionary conserved family of cysteine proteases that are centrally involved in cell death and inflammation responses. A wealth of foundational insight into the molecular mechanisms that control caspase activation has emerged in recent years. Important advancements include the identification of additional inflammasome platforms and pathways that regulate activation of inflammatory caspases; the discovery of gasdermin D as the effector of pyroptosis and interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-18 secretion; and the existence of substantial crosstalk between inflammatory and apoptotic initiator caspases. A better understanding of the mechanisms regulating caspase activation has supported initial efforts to modulate dysfunctional cell death and inflammation pathways in a suite of communicable, inflammatory, malignant, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review current understanding of caspase biology with a prime focus on the inflammatory caspases and outline important topics for future experimentation.

半胱天冬酶是半胱氨酸蛋白酶的进化保守家族，主要参与细胞死亡和炎症反应。近年来出现了对控制半胱天冬酶活化的分子机制的大量基础见解。重要的进展包括确定了调节炎性半胱天冬酶激活的其他炎性体平台和途径；发现 gasdermin D 作为细胞焦亡和白细胞介素 (IL)-1 和 IL-18 分泌的效应物；以及炎症和凋亡引发剂半胱天冬酶之间存在大量串扰。对调节半胱天冬酶激活机制的更好理解支持了在一系列可传染的、炎症的、恶性的、代谢的、和神经退行性疾病。在这里，我们回顾了当前对 caspase 生物学的理解，主要关注炎症性 caspase，并概述了未来实验的重要主题。