### CASP4 Gene Summary

**Gene Symbol**: CASP4  
**Gene Type**: Protein coding

**Protein Function**: The CASP4 gene encodes a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. It plays a critical role in apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response, particularly through mediating pyroptosis via the non-canonical inflammasome in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

### 1. Associated Genes
Other genes associated with CASP4 include:
- **Casp1 (Caspase 1)**: Partner in the canonical inflammasome pathway for IL-1β and IL-18 maturation.
- **GSDMD (Gasdermin D)**: Directly cleaved by CASP4, facilitating pyroptosis.
- **NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3)** and **NLRP6**: Inflammasome components indirectly activated by CASP4.
- **IL18**: A cytokine processed by CASP4.
- **IL1A**: Another cytokine involved in inflammation, downstream of CASP4 activity.

### 2. Aging and Age-Related Diseases
CASP4 has been implicated in several age-related processes:
- **Neurodegeneration**: Contributes to cell death during endoplasmic reticulum stress, which is a feature observed in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's attributed to the accumulation of cytotoxic amyloid-beta peptides.
- **Inflammaging**: The chronic, low-grade inflammation seen in aging may be modulated by CASP4 as it is involved in the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- **Infection**: As CASP4 plays a role in innate immunity, its dysregulation could impact the body’s defense mechanisms in older populations who generally have a weaker immune response, leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

### 3. Drug Interactions
While there are no specific drugs directly targeting CASP4 at present, it is associated with the following classes that may modulate the pathways in which it participates:
- **Caspase Inhibitors**: Used in preclinical studies to explore roles in apoptosis and inflammation.
- **Inflammatory Modulators**: Various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may indirectly affect the activity of CASP4 through the reduction of inflammatory processes.

### 4. Pathways and Biological Processes
CASP4 is involved in numerous critical pathways, including:
- **Caspase Activation and Apoptosis Pathway**: Execution of programmed cell death.
- **Pyroptosis**: An inflammatory form of cell death, especially in response to bacterial infections.
- **Innate Immune Response**: Key player in recognizing and responding to bacterial infections.
- **IL-1 and IL-18 Processing**: Involvement in cytokine secretion and inflammatory response.
- **Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response**: Mediates cell death under stress conditions, playing a role in age-related diseases.
- **NLRP3 and NLRP6 Inflammasome Pathways**: Indirect activation promoting the secretion of mature inflammatory cytokines.

### Conclusion
CASP4 serves as a crucial effector in apoptosis and inflammation through its role in the non-canonical inflammasome. Its association with aging and age-related diseases, along with its interaction with other critical genes and pathways, emphasizes its importance in both basic biology and potential therapeutic targets for diseases characterized by inflammation and cell death.