Of importance, it has been increasingly recognized that caspases not only mediate apoptosis but also protect from necrosis and decrease the severity of pancreatitis.2, 3, 7 XIAP is the most potent endogenous caspase inhibitor among the IAPs family, and it can inhibit mitochondria-driven caspases-3, -7 and -9.16, 17, 19 Thus, we suppose that block of XIAP can increase caspases activities and promote apoptosis in acute pancreatitis. The gene discussed is CASP3; the disease is acute pancreatitis.