Mapping out p38MAPK

Abstract

To generate new hypotheses, sometimes a "systems" approach is needed. In this review, I focus on the mitogen-activated kinase p38 because it has been recently shown to play an important role in the developmental programing and senescence of normal and stressed reproductive tissues. What follows is an overview of (i) pathways of p38 activation and their involvement in basic biological processes, (ii) evidence that p38 is involved in the homeostasis of reproductive tissues, (iii) how focus on p38 can be incorporated into investigation of normal and stressed pregnancies. Existence of excellent reviews will be mentioned as well as relevant animal models.

Keywords: MAPK14 p38 pregnancy; immunology; reproduction.

Fig. 1. A p38-centric view of cellular homeostasis

A stylized cell with dark grey endoplasmic reticulum, light grey mitochondria and a while nucleus is shown. A sampling of factors leading to increased presence of activated (phosphorylated, P-p38) p38 are shown with blue arrows/black writing, while events downstream of p38 activation (green) are shown with red arrows and writing. ASK-1 (Apoptosis signaling kinase 1), TRAF2 (TNF receptor-associated factor 2), GADD45α (Growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible protein GADD45 alpha), TNF (Tumor necrosis factor), IL-1 (Interleukin 1), NF-κb (nuclear factor kappa B) are all shown as representative molecules in the p38 ‘universe’.