Regulation of the extrinsic pathway is crucial to prevent unwarranted cell death. Several mechanisms exist to modulate this pathway:
- Decoy Receptors: These receptors can bind apoptotic ligands without transmitting a death signal, thus inhibiting apoptosis. - FLICE-inhibitory proteins (FLIPs): These proteins can inhibit caspase-8 activation by interfering with DISC formation. - Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs): Although more prominent in the intrinsic pathway, IAPs can also inhibit executioner caspases to modulate apoptosis.
