Caspase-3：治疗神经退行性疾病的新靶点

Caspase-3是caspases家族（一类天冬氨酸特异性酶切半胱氨酸蛋白酶）中的成员，是哺乳动物细胞凋亡的关键蛋白酶.随着研究的深入，发现caspase-3在神经退行性疾病的病理过程中起着很重要的角色.Caspase-3在这些疾病的病理过程中，不仅仅是起着凋亡的效应器作用，还能直接与老年性痴呆症、帕金森氏症、亨廷顿舞蹈病、脊椎小脑失调等疾病的致病蛋白质分子相互作用，参与致病机制.因此，caspase-3是治疗神经退行性疾病的新靶点，寻找caspase-3高效高选择性的抑制剂将为治疗神经退行性疾病提供新的途径.

Caspase-3: a New Target for Neurodegenerative Diseases Treatment

Caspase-3, a member of the caspase family, is the key protein enzyme of mammalian cell in apoptosis. Recent studies show that caspase-3 plays an essential role in the pathological process of neurodegenerative diseases. In the process, caspase-3 not only performs as apoptosis effector, but also interacts directly with the pathogenic protein molecules of these diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease and Spinocerebellar ataxia, particpating in their pathogenic mechanism. Therefore, caspase-3 is a new target for neurodegenerative diseases treatment, the search for caspase-3 inhibitors with high effectivity and selectivity will supply a novel way to cure neurodegenerative diseases.