Caspases are a family of endoproteases that play critical roles in cell death and inflammation. They are activated through signaling events that cause their aggregation into dimers or macromolecular complexes. Apoptotic caspases lead to the controlled dismantling of cellular components, while inflammatory caspases produce proinflammatory cytokines and promote immune responses. Dysregulation of caspases is linked to diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. Caspases are classified based on their roles in apoptosis (e.g., caspase-3, -6, -7, -8, -9) and inflammation (e.g., caspase-1, -4, -5, -12 in humans). Caspase-2, -10, and -14 have less defined functions. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process that can occur through extrinsic or intrinsic pathways. The extrinsic pathway is triggered by extracellular signals binding to death receptors, leading to caspase-8 activation. The intrinsic pathway involves mitochondrial factors and is activated by cellular stress. Caspase-8 also plays a role in necrosis suppression. Inflammation is mediated by inflammatory caspases, which are activated through inflammasome formation. Inflammasomes are complexes that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activate caspase-1, leading to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Caspases are involved in various physiological processes, including cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Mutations in caspase genes have been linked to cancer and other diseases. For example, mutations in CASP8 are associated with increased cancer risk, while mutations in CASP9 are linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Polymorphisms in caspase genes can influence cancer susceptibility. Caspase-1 is involved in inflammatory diseases such as gout and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated IL-1β levels, which contribute to insulin resistance. Overall, caspases are essential for maintaining homeostasis and their dysregulation can lead to various diseases.Caspases are a family of endoproteases that play critical roles in cell death and inflammation. They are activated through signaling events that cause their aggregation into dimers or macromolecular complexes. Apoptotic caspases lead to the controlled dismantling of cellular components, while inflammatory caspases produce proinflammatory cytokines and promote immune responses. Dysregulation of caspases is linked to diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. Caspases are classified based on their roles in apoptosis (e.g., caspase-3, -6, -7, -8, -9) and inflammation (e.g., caspase-1, -4, -5, -12 in humans). Caspase-2, -10, and -14 have less defined functions. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process that can occur through extrinsic or intrinsic pathways. The extrinsic pathway is triggered by extracellular signals binding to death receptors, leading to caspase-8 activation. The intrinsic pathway involves mitochondrial factors and is activated by cellular stress. Caspase-8 also plays a role in necrosis suppression. Inflammation is mediated by inflammatory caspases, which are activated through inflammasome formation. Inflammasomes are complexes that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activate caspase-1, leading to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Caspases are involved in various physiological processes, including cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Mutations in caspase genes have been linked to cancer and other diseases. For example, mutations in CASP8 are associated with increased cancer risk, while mutations in CASP9 are linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Polymorphisms in caspase genes can influence cancer susceptibility. Caspase-1 is involved in inflammatory diseases such as gout and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated IL-1β levels, which contribute to insulin resistance. Overall, caspases are essential for maintaining homeostasis and their dysregulation can lead to various diseases.