Role of p38 and JNK in liver ischemia and reperfusion.
OBJECTIVE
The signal transduction of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has appeared to be an important mediator of ischemic-related events. Because of this, we analyzed the participation of p38 and JNK in liver ischemia and reperfusion, as two individual members of the MAPK family of proteins.


METHODS
All papers referred to in PubMed for the past 15 years were analyzed to determine how and when these MAPKs were considered to be an intricate part of the ischemic event. References were cross-studied to ascertain whether other papers could be found in the literature.


RESULTS
The role of p38 and JNK in liver ischemia was confirmed in the literature. The activation of these mediators was associated with the induction of apoptosis and necrosis. Inhibitors of p38 and JNK reduced the liver ischemia and reperfusion damage, probably through the mechanisms mentioned before.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of effective inhibitors of p38 and JNK protein mediators is important for minimizing the harmful effects associated with liver ischemia and reperfusion.
King
LaShonda A
LA
Department of Research, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Michigan State University, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA.
Toledo
Alexander H
AH
Rivera-Chavez
Fernando A
FA
Toledo-Pereyra
Luis H
LH
D000818:Animals; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013552:Swine; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases