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Pathological roles of MAPK signaling pathways in human diseases

Eun Kyung Kim1, Eui-Ju Choi

  • 1School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, South Korea.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|January 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulate cell activities but their dysregulation is linked to diseases. This review covers MAPK roles in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are crucial signaling pathways involving MAP3K, MAP2K, and MAPK components.
  • MAPK pathways are activated by various stimuli and regulate essential cellular functions like proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the involvement of MAPK signaling pathways in human diseases.
  • To focus on the roles of MAPKs in cancer and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific findings.
  • Focus on studies investigating MAPK signaling in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Results:

  • Dysregulation of MAPK pathways is implicated in numerous human diseases.
  • Persistent activation of JNK or p38 pathways contributes to neuronal apoptosis in AD, PD, and ALS.
  • The ERK pathway is critical for cancer progression, including proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusions:

  • MAPK signaling pathways are significantly involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Understanding MAPK roles is vital for developing therapeutic strategies for these conditions.

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