Caspase-7 Activates ASM to Repair Gasdermin and Perforin Pores

Researchers showed in both organoids and mice that caspase-7-deficient intestinal epithelial cell did not complete extrusion. Mechanistically, caspase-7 counteracted gasdermin D pores and preserved cell integrity by cleaving and activating acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), which thereby generated copious amounts of ceramide to enable enhanced membrane repair.