ERK signaling pathway in rheumatoid arthritis

The excessive activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) signaling pathway,which is a significant feature of rheumatoid arthritic(RA) arthropathy,plays an important role in the process of synoviocyte dysfunction and destruction of cartilage and bone.Understanding the pathomechanism of ERK signaling in RA provides a new target for developing new drug and therapeutic strategy.This review summarizes the current knowledge of the activation,regulation and function of ERK pathway,and also analyzes the role of this signaling transduction in the destruction of joints and the pathogenesis of RA.