Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases that play an essential role in carrying out apoptosis. Caspase-14, also named MICE, is a unique member of the caspase family with restricted expression; it is found in embryonic tissues and adult skin. Caspase-14 is weakly processed into p18 and p11 subunits by caspase-8. Caspase-14 may not play a role in apoptosis, but instead may regulate keratinocyte differentiation. Expression of caspase-14 may protect from psoriasis and irradiation damage. Caspase-14 may also be responsible for proteolytic processing of filaggrin during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes.
