Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity
Published on: June 14, 2024
Involvement of PERK and ATF6 signal pathways in indicating unfolded protein response in patients with chronic
Nergiz Erkut1, Merve Kestane1, Selim Demir2
1Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Introduction:
PERK, ATF6, and IRE1α signalling pathways are unfolded protein response (UPR) signalling pathways. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PERK and ATF6 signalling pathways, in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients.
Methods:
ELISA was performed on peripheral blood plasma samples from the CLL group and the control group for the markers eIF2AK3, GRP78, ATF6, CHOP, HIF-1α and caspase 3.
Results:
In this study, the levels of eIF2AK3, GRP78, ATF6 and CHOP were higher in the CLL group than in the control group (p = <0.001, p = <0.001, p = <0.001, p = <0.001, respectively). While no difference was observed between the CLL group and the control group in terms of HIF-1α level, caspase 3 level was higher in the CLL group (p = <0.001). There was a positive relationship between the level of HIF-1α and the levels of ATF6 and CHOP (r = 0.648, p = <0.001; r = 0.727, p = <0.001, respectively). Also, a positive correlation was observed between caspase 3 level and ATF6 level (r = 0.301, p = 0.030).
Discussion:
In this study, markers associated with PERK and ATF6 signalling pathways were higher in CLL patients.
Related Concept Videos
The Unfolded Protein Response
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Export of Misfolded Proteins out of the ER
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...

