Cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous functions of caspase-8

Cells in vivo do not act in isolation. Therefore, when attempting to predict the results of pharmaceutical modulation of the function of a protein, we must also take into account the non-cell-autonomous consequences of such modulation. Studies of caspase-8 initially indicated that it serves as the proximal enzyme in cellular self-destruction dictated through the extrinsic cell-death pathway. Later studies revealed that it also participates in mechanisms affecting cell growth and survival. This essay presents a brief account of a study indicating that, apart from functional changes that are cell autonomous, tissue-specific deletion of caspase-8 in mice also has non-cell-autonomous effects with consequences that might even be the opposite of the cell-autonomous ones. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.