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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
Role of JNK activation in apoptosis: a double-edged sword
1Ben May Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 6027, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Abstract:
JNK is a key regulator of many cellular events, including programmed cell death (apoptosis). In the absence of NF-kB activation, prolonged JNK activation contributes to TNF-a induced apoptosis. JNK is also essential for UV induced apoptosis. However, recent studies reveal that JNK can suppress apoptosis in IL-3-dependent hematopoietic cells via phosphorylation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein BAD. Thus, JNK has pro- or antiapoptotic functions, depending on cell type, nature of the death stimulus, duration of its activation and the activity of other signaling pathways.
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