CARD16 (caspase recruitment domain family member 16) functions as a caspase inhibitor and inflammasome regulator that modulates inflammatory responses. The protein acts as a negative regulator of caspase-1 activation and inhibits the proteolytic maturation and release of pro-interleukin-1β (IL-1β) during inflammation 12. CARD16 expression is dysregulated in response to periodontal pathogens, where it can be either upregulated or downregulated depending on bacterial exposure conditions, contributing to inflammasome dysfunction 12. In pathological contexts, CARD16 demonstrates tumor-promoting properties in glioma by suppressing apoptosis through downregulation of the FOXO1/TRAIL axis, enhancing both anti-apoptotic and tumorigenic characteristics 3. The protein also shows clinical significance in sepsis, where its upregulation in elderly patients correlates with increased pro-inflammatory factors and may potentiate inflammatory responses through NF-κB signaling pathway modulation 4. Evolutionarily, CARD16 exhibits dynamic patterns across primates and rodents, with multiple pseudogenization and gene loss events observed, suggesting species-specific functional variations 56. Additionally, CARD16 expression is upregulated during AIM2 inflammasome activation in viral infections, indicating its role in antiviral immune responses 7.