CARD8
Description
The CARD8 (caspase recruitment domain family member 8) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 19.
Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 8 (CARD8) is a protein encoded by the CARD8 gene in humans. CARD8 is involved in pathways leading to the activation of caspases or nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in the context of apoptosis or inflammation, respectively.
CARD8 is an inflammasome sensor that recognizes various pathogen-associated signals and triggers inflammasome activation, leading to pyroptosis of CD4(+) T-cells and macrophages. Inflammasomes are crucial for innate immunity and inflammation, and CARD8 acts as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) by detecting specific pathogens and damage-associated signals, including HIV-1 protease activity. Upon encountering these signals, CARD8 undergoes proteolytic cleavage, releasing its C-terminal part, which assembles into the CARD8 inflammasome complex. This complex recruits pro-caspase-1, leading to caspase-1 activation and the subsequent cleavage and activation of inflammatory cytokines IL1B and IL18, as well as gasdermin-D (GSDMD), ultimately resulting in pyroptosis. CARD8 also acts as a negative regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome and may inhibit NF-kappa-B activation. CARD8's ability to sense HIV-1 protease activity allows for the clearance of latent HIV-1 in CD4(+) T-cells after viral reactivation. However, HIV-1 can evade detection if its protease remains inactive in infected cells before viral budding.
CARD8 is also known as CARDINAL, DACAR, DAKAR, NDPP, NDPP1, TUCAN.
