Todesrezeptorweg

The Todesrezeptorweg, also known as the death receptor pathway, is a crucial signaling cascade in the immune system that plays a significant role in cell death and inflammation. This pathway is initiated by the binding of death ligands, such as Fas ligand (FasL) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), to their respective death receptors on the surface of target cells. The most well-known death receptors are Fas (CD95) and TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1).

Upon ligand binding, the death receptors form a complex with the adapter protein Fas-associated death domain (FADD). This complex then recruits and activates the initiator caspase-8, which in turn activates downstream executioner caspases, such as caspase-3 and caspase-7. These executioner caspases are responsible for the cleavage of various cellular substrates, leading to cell death.

The Todesrezeptorweg is involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including apoptosis, inflammation, and immune regulation. It is also implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the Todesrezeptorweg is essential for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.