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Activator protein 1 (Fos/Jun) functions in inflammatory bone and skin disease

Rainer Zenz1, Robert Eferl, Clemens Scheinecker

  • 1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Währinger Strasse 13a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Arthritis Research & Therapy
|January 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Activator protein 1 (AP-1) regulates cytokine expression and inflammatory diseases. Understanding AP-1

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Activator protein 1 (AP-1), a transcription factor (Fos/Jun), plays roles in development and disease.
  • Conditional mutagenesis in mice revealed AP-1's critical functions in inflammatory responses.
  • AP-1 proteins are key regulators in osteoimmunology, linking bone and immune cell functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent data on AP-1's function in cytokine expression.
  • To highlight AP-1's role as a modulator in inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature.
  • Analysis of data from conditional mutagenesis and gene targeting studies in mice.
  • Examination of AP-1's role in oncogenesis, osteoimmunology, and inflammatory disease pathways.

Main Results:

  • AP-1 regulates cytokine expression, impacting inflammatory pathways.
  • AP-1 proteins function as both tumor promoters and suppressors in oncogenesis.
  • AP-1 is recognized as a critical regulator in osteoimmunology.

Conclusions:

  • Recent data enhance the molecular understanding of AP-1's role in disease.
  • AP-1's function as a regulator of cytokine expression is crucial in inflammatory diseases.
  • Further research into AP-1 pathways may lead to novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory conditions.

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