Signaling by the JNK group of MAP kinases. c-jun N-terminal Kinase.
c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is one of the several main MAP kinase groups identified in mammals. Original studies by use of Jurkat T cells implicated JNK in T cell activation and interleukin (IL-2) expression. Recent advances using mouse genetic approaches have revealed novel functions of this pathway in primary mouse T cells. JNK is not essential for T-cell activation; instead, it is required for helper T differentiation into effector cells and their cytokine production. In this review, we summarize these advances in understanding the expression, function, and regulation of the JNK pathway in T-lymphocyte activation and differentiation.
Dong
C
C
Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine and Howard Hughes, Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Davis
R J
RJ
Flavell
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; D051379:Mice; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; C482559:MAP2K4 protein, human; C482569:MAP2K7 protein, human; C482562:Map2k4 protein, mouse; C482570:Map2k7 protein, mouse; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases