Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

9.2K

The Expanding Role of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Programmed Host Cell Death

Jessica Gräb1,2, Jan Rybniker1,2,3

  • 1Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Microbiology Insights
|August 7, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is crucial for immune responses but can be manipulated by pathogens. Repurposing p38 MAPK inhibitors may offer new strategies for controlling infectious diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway regulates essential cellular processes and host immune responses to stress, such as bacterial infections and inflammation.
  • Pathogens can exploit the p38 MAPK signaling pathway to manipulate host cell apoptosis, either preventing or inducing it for their own advantage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dual role of p38 MAPK in host-pathogen interactions, specifically its involvement in apoptosis and necrosis.
  • To identify potential therapeutic strategies by repurposing existing p38 MAPK inhibitors for infectious disease control.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of existing studies on p38 MAPK signaling in the context of infectious diseases.
  • Examination of evidence linking p38 MAPK to host cell apoptosis and necrosis induced by pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Pathogens can manipulate p38 MAPK signaling to control host cell apoptosis.
  • p38 MAPK activation is implicated in pathogen-induced necrosis through mitochondrial membrane disruption.

Conclusions:

  • The p38 MAPK pathway plays a complex role in infectious diseases, influencing both host defense and pathogen virulence.
  • Repurposing clinically tested p38 MAPK inhibitors presents a promising avenue for developing novel treatments for infectious diseases.
Keywords:
Mycobacterium tuberculosisapoptosismitochondrianecrosisp38 MAPK

More Related Videos

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP08:05

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Published on: May 26, 2017

19.2K
Use of LysoTracker to Detect Programmed Cell Death in Embryos and Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells12:44

Use of LysoTracker to Detect Programmed Cell Death in Embryos and Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: October 11, 2012

23.9K

Related Concept Videos

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
15.0K
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

4.4K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.7K
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways01:25

cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways

Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
8.4K
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
9.5K
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.4K