CFLAR Antibody
Description
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
The CASP8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR), also known as cFLIP, is a crucial protein involved in the regulation of apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death. Apoptosis is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and eliminating damaged or unwanted cells. CFLAR plays a significant role in modulating the apoptotic pathways, particularly in the context of immune responses and disease states.
CFLAR is structurally similar to caspase-8 (CASP8), a key initiator caspase in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. It contains two death effector domains (DEDs) that allow it to interact with other proteins involved in apoptosis regulation, such as FADD (Fas-associated death domain) and CASP8 . By forming complexes with these proteins, CFLAR can inhibit the activation of CASP8, thereby preventing the initiation of the apoptotic cascade .
CFLAR acts as a crucial regulator of apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of CASP8. This inhibition is vital for preventing excessive cell death and ensuring the survival of cells under stress conditions. CFLAR achieves this by binding to the DEDs of FADD and CASP8, thereby blocking the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and subsequent activation of CASP8 .
The dysregulation of CFLAR has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and liver diseases. For instance, CFLAR has been shown to suppress steatohepatitis, a severe form of liver inflammation associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By targeting the kinase MAP3K5 (ASK1) and interrupting its dimerization, CFLAR can ameliorate the progression of steatohepatitis and its metabolic complications .
In cancer, the overexpression of CFLAR can contribute to tumor cell survival and resistance to apoptosis-inducing therapies. This makes CFLAR a potential therapeutic target for enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatments .
Recent research has focused on developing therapeutic strategies to modulate CFLAR activity. For example, small peptide segments that mimic the inhibitory effects of CFLAR on ASK1 have shown promise in preclinical models of liver disease . Additionally, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of CFLAR can provide insights into the development of novel therapies for diseases characterized by dysregulated apoptosis.
