CASP3 and infection: The inhibition of NF-κB activation during infection induces the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-9, as well as the downstream caspase-3, but not caspase-6 and caspase-7 (Joshi et al. 2003), whereas at the same time, the pro-apoptotic Bad accumulates, and the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 is downregulated in addition to the release of Smac and cytochrome c from mitochondria (Joshi et al. 2004).