The caspase-3/GSDME signal pathway as a switch between apoptosis and pyroptosis in cancer

Abstract Apoptosis has long been recognized as a mechanism that kills the cancer cells by cytotoxic drugs. In recent years, studies have proved that pyroptosis can also shrink tumors and inhibit cells proliferation. Both apoptosis and pyroptosis are caspase-dependent programmed cell death pathways. Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) is a common key protein in the apoptosis and pyroptosis pathways, and when activated, the expression level of tumor suppressor gene Gasdermin E (GSDME) determines the mechanism of tumor cell death. When GSDME is highly expressed, the active caspase-3 cuts it and releases the N-terminal domain to punch holes in the cell membrane, resulting in cell swelling,…

• HM
  Harbin Medical University
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 81602662
• WJ
  Wu Jieping Medical Foundation

  Awards: 320.6750.2020-05-17, 320.6750