Initiator caspases are a subgroup of caspases, which are crucial proteases involved in the process of apoptosis or programmed cell death. They are called "initiator" caspases because they are the first to be activated in the caspase cascade, leading to the activation of effector caspases that execute cell death. Key initiator caspases include caspase-2, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-10.
