Caspase Recruitment Domain Family, Member 8 (CARD8)

CARD8 belongs to the caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing family of proteins, which are involved in pathways leading to activation of caspases or nuclear factor kappa-B (NFKB). This protein may be a component of the inflammasome, a protein complex that plays a role in the activation of proinflammatory caspases. It is thought that this protein acts as an adaptor molecule that negatively regulates NFKB activation, CASP1-dependent IL1B secretion, and apoptosis. Polymorphisms in this gene may be associated with a susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene.High expression in lung, ovary, testis and placenta. Lower expression in heart, kidney and liver. Also expressed in spleen, lymph node and bone marrow.