Table 3.

Caspases Classification.

Caspase group	Members	Overview
Initiator caspases	Caspase-2,-8,-9,-10	These caspases are at the top of the caspase signaling cascade, being responsible for executioner caspases proteolytic activation during apoptosis [11]. Initiator caspases are characterized by the presence of an extended N-terminal pro-domain essential for their function [11].
Effector or executioner caspases	Caspase-3,-6,-7	Effector caspases [9,12,13,14] induce biochemical and morphological changes in the cell such as chromatin condensation, DNA and nuclear fragmentation, cytoskeletal and nuclear protein degradation, crosslinking of proteins, formation of apoptotic bodies and expression of ligands for phagocytic cell receptors [9].
Inflammatory caspases	Caspase-1,-4,-5,-11	Key regulators of inflammation and cell death by inducing pyroptosis and the extracellular release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and danger signals [15].
Other caspases	Caspase-12 caspase-13 and caspase-14	These caspases are not well characterized and are still under study. Caspase-12 has a role during endoplasmic-specific apoptosis [9].