| In a cell free assay , caspases 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , and granzyme B initiated benzoyloxycarbonyl Asp Glu Val Asp ( DEVD ) cleaving caspase activity , DFF45 / ICAD inactivation , and DNA fragmentation , but calpain and cathepsin D failed to initiate these events . ^^^ Strikingly , only the DEVD cleaving caspases , caspase 3 and caspase 7 , inactivated DFF45 / ICAD and promoted DNA fragmentation in an in vitro DFF40 / CAD assay , suggesting that granzyme B , caspase 6 , and caspase 8 promote DFF45 / ICAD inactivation and DNA fragmentation indirectly by activating caspase 3 and / or caspase 7 . ^^^ |