Home > Browse Issues > Vol.35 No.2
Functions and Mechanisms of the p38 MAP Kinase Pathway
Zhuang Qiuyu, Liu Jun, Han Jiahuai*
Department of Life sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Abstract: The members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family participate in cellular responses to
a wide range of extracellular stimuli. One of the four sub-families， the p38 group MAP kinases， plays a vital role in
numerous biological processes. The p38 signaling pathway can be activated in response to many physical， chemical，
and biological stresses， including UV light， heat shock， osmotic shock， inflammatory cytokines， and growth factors.
The p38 pathway also regulates various physiological processes such as cell differentiation， the cell cycle， and
inflammation. This review focuses on the characteristics of each p38 member， the components of the p38 pathway，
and the mechanisms and consequences of p38 activation. We also discuss the interplay between the p38 pathway
and other signaling pathways.
a wide range of extracellular stimuli. One of the four sub-families， the p38 group MAP kinases， plays a vital role in
numerous biological processes. The p38 signaling pathway can be activated in response to many physical， chemical，
and biological stresses， including UV light， heat shock， osmotic shock， inflammatory cytokines， and growth factors.
The p38 pathway also regulates various physiological processes such as cell differentiation， the cell cycle， and
inflammation. This review focuses on the characteristics of each p38 member， the components of the p38 pathway，
and the mechanisms and consequences of p38 activation. We also discuss the interplay between the p38 pathway
and other signaling pathways.
CN
EN