Caspase-8 is essential for maintaining chromosomal stability and suppressing B-cell lymphomagenesis.

ABSTRACT

In addition to its proapoptotic function, caspase-8 is also important for several other processes, including suppressing necroptosis, cell migration, and immune cell survival. In the present study, we report that the loss of caspase-8 in B lymphocytes leads to B-cell malignancies and that the risk for these tumors is further enhanced in the absence of p53. We also report that deficiency of caspase-8 results in impaired cytokinesis and that casp8(-/-) lymphomas display remarkably elevated levels of chromosomal aberrations. Our data support an important role for caspase-8 in the maintenance of genomic integrity and highlight its tumor-suppressive function.