Caspases – a Target of Intervention in the Diseases That Are Still Difficult to Treat

Overview

The central role in apoptosis, which is a precondition of the normal development of the organism,as played by caspases, a family of highly specific cystein proteases. Caspases released from procaspasesin a certain surplus induce apoptosis, with simultaneous cleavage of some cellular proteinsessential for cellular growth. Caspase activity (initiative or effector one) is the resultant and finalphysiological as well as pathological stimulus, in which impairment of the cell membranes, functionof mitochondria and other organelles, and also DNA takes place. The interest is focused on caspasesinhibitors, which could influence, at some stages, some diseases which are difficult to control orwhich are still untreatable (tumours, neurodegenerative diseases, viral liver diseases, inflammatorydiseases). The caspases family includes 14 enzymes, the best examined ones being caspase-1 andcaspase-3. The therapeutically usable protease inhibitors include, for the time being, serine proteasesand some metaloproteases, whereas the inhibitors of cysteine proteases have not been introducedinto practice yet. Synthesis of caspases inhibitors, in particularly those of non-peptidic character,the so-called small molecules, is one of the strategic aims of contemporary research of the treatmentof the above-mentioned diseases.

Key words:
apoptosis – caspases – caspases inhibitors – therapeutic possibilities