Research Development of ERK1/2 Pathway and Its Mediated Multiple Sclerosis / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway, which was the first cell signal transduction pathway to be discovered, consisted of Ras, Raf, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. After the activation of ERK1/2 pathway, extracellular signals can be transmitted from the cell membrane to the nucleus. It was involved in many physiological and pathological functions of cells, such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and etc. It was also related to the onset of many diseases, which included multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The activation of ERK1/2 pathway can induce the activation of astrocyte, MG, T cell and macrophage, which released a variety of inflammatory cytokines. It caused myelin damage which induced MS/EAE onset. A number of studies indicated that inhibiting ERK1/2 pathway can reduce the releasing of inflammatory cytokines and myelin damage for MS/EAE alleviation. It provided an important target for the development of MS treatment medication.