Caspase-1 is a proinflammatory caspase via activation of the cytokine IL-18. We have recently demonstrated that the caspase-1-mediated production of IL-18 plays a deleterious role in ischaemic acute renal failure (ARF) which is independent of neutrophils and CD4+ T cells. The role of caspase-1 in hypoxia-induced membrane injury of proximal tubules (PT) in vitro is unknown.
University of Colorado Health Science Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Denver, CO 80262, USA, and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan.
