cytokine signaling mechanisms

Abstract: A new member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, alternatively termed CSBP, p38, or RK, has been identified independently by several laboratories recently. Activation oftbis novel protein kinase via dual phosphorylation has been observed in different cell systems upon stimulation by a wide spectrum of stimuLi, such as physicochemi-cal stress and treatment with Iipopolysaccharide or proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin- 1 and tumor necrosis factor. Furthermore, CSAIDTM cy-tokine biosynthesis inhibitors have now been deter-mined to be potent and selective inhibitors of CSBP/p38/RK kinase activity. These inhibitors will help to dissect signaling pathways involved in inflam-matory responses. In particular, for the first time a definitive signal transduction pathway can be pre-scribed to the action of lipopolysaccharide in cytok-me production in macrophages. J. Leukoc. Biol. 59: 152-157; i996. Key Words: signal transduction. protein phosphorylation kinase inhibitor translation regulation. cytokine-suppressive