The p38 MAPK stress pathway as a tumor suppressor or more?
p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPKs) are a group of serine/threonine protein kinases that together with ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinases) MAPKs act to convert different extracellular signals into specific cellular responses through interacting with and phosphorylating downstream targets. In contrast to the mitogenic ERK pathway, mammalian p38 MAPK family proteins (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), with and without JNK participation, predominantly regulate inflammatory and stress response. Recent emerging evidence suggests that the p38 stress MAPK pathway may function as a tumor suppressor through regulating Ras-dependent and -independent proliferation, transformation, invasion and cell death by isoform-specific mechanisms. A selective activation of a stress pathway to block tumorigenesis may be a novel strategy to control human malignancies.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zablocki Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI 53226, USA.
Mathew
M
Loesch
Guan
G
Chen
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011905:Genes, ras; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008322:Mammals; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009857:Oncogenes; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases