title: PKR-dependent inflammatory signals.
abstract: Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is implicated in inflammation and immune dysfunction through its regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, interferon regulatory factor 3, nuclear factor κB, apoptosis, and autophagy pathways. A study shows that PKR is also required for the activation of inflammasomes and the subsequent release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, a proinflammatory cytokine. Thus, the cell stress kinase PKR has multifaceted roles in the regulation of inflammatory immune responses, and PKR and HMGB1 are attractive targets for inflammasome-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Daolin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D024243:HMGB1 Protein; C494232:IRF3 protein, human; D058847:Inflammasomes; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases