Targeting MAPK in Human Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1671
Special Issue Editor
Interests: MAPK; targeted therapy; cancer; ERK5; cell signaling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine–threonine protein kinases that play crucial roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis or survival, inflammation, and immunity. In mammals, the canonical MAPKs include c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1/2/3), p38 MAPKs (which consist of the p38α, p38β, p38γ, and p38δ isoforms), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2/5). Additionally, atypical MAPKs such as ERK3/4, ERK7/8, and Nemo-like kinase (NLK) have been identified. Together, these MAPKs regulate numerous substrates, including members of a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases known as MAPK-activated protein kinases (MAPKAPKs). Dysregulation of MAPK pathways is associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer, chronic inflammatory conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. Among the many factors involved in regulating the duration, magnitude, and spatiotemporal profiles of MAPK activity, dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) play a crucial role by dephosphorylating key signaling molecules, including MAPKs.
This Special Issue aims to emphasize the role of MAPKs in human diseases and explore strategies for targeting these pathways to mitigate the impact of their deregulation on human health.
Dr. Elisabetta Rovida
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- ERK
- DUSP
- cancer
- inflammation
- neurodegenerative diseases
- autoimmune diseases
- targeted therapy
- cell signaling
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