Caspases are a family of endoproteases that play crucial roles in regulating inflammation and cell death. They are activated through a series of signaling events, leading to the aggregation of inactive zymogens into dimers or larger complexes. In apoptosis, initiator caspases (caspase-8 and -9) activate executioner caspases (caspase-3, -6, and -7), which then degrade cellular components. Inflammation is mediated by inflammatory caspases (caspase-1, -4, -5, and -12 in humans, and caspase-1, -11, and -12 in mice), which produce proinflammatory cytokines. Dysregulation of caspases is associated with human diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. Caspase-8 has dual roles in apoptosis and necrosis, while caspase-1 is involved in pyroptosis, a nonapoptotic form of cell death. Caspase-12 inhibits inflammation, and caspase-10 and caspase-14 have less well-defined roles. Genetic variations in caspase genes can influence susceptibility to various cancers and inflammatory diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding caspase function in therapeutic interventions.Caspases are a family of endoproteases that play crucial roles in regulating inflammation and cell death. They are activated through a series of signaling events, leading to the aggregation of inactive zymogens into dimers or larger complexes. In apoptosis, initiator caspases (caspase-8 and -9) activate executioner caspases (caspase-3, -6, and -7), which then degrade cellular components. Inflammation is mediated by inflammatory caspases (caspase-1, -4, -5, and -12 in humans, and caspase-1, -11, and -12 in mice), which produce proinflammatory cytokines. Dysregulation of caspases is associated with human diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. Caspase-8 has dual roles in apoptosis and necrosis, while caspase-1 is involved in pyroptosis, a nonapoptotic form of cell death. Caspase-12 inhibits inflammation, and caspase-10 and caspase-14 have less well-defined roles. Genetic variations in caspase genes can influence susceptibility to various cancers and inflammatory diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding caspase function in therapeutic interventions.