Kinase cascade shown to be involved in inflammation process using multiple sclerosis patients' cells
2015
Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated disorder, in which autoantigen-specific T cells infiltrate the central nervous system and carry out an immune reaction against self-structures, leading to progressive demyelination and consequent nervous damage. The p38 kinase plays an essential role in human lymphocyte development, proliferation and cytokine release. In the present study, the researchers aimed at uncovering a possible link between the p38 signalling pathway and the breakdown of the immunological balance in MS. Using immune cells isolated from MS patients and healthy donors, the researchers showed that the p38 signalling pathway is implicated in the generation of a certain subset of lymphocytes and the release of certain cytokines. Interestingly, the data show that cells from MS patients display altered responsiveness of the p38 cascade, resulting in increased p38 phosphorylation upon stimulation. These findings suggest that the p38 signalling pathway, by modulating the Th17 differentiation and response, is involved in the pathogenesis of MS, and open new perspectives for the use of p38 inhibitors in the treatment of Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases.
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade modulates T helper type 17 differentiation and functionality in multiple sclerosis
Luca Battistini
Added on: 10-30-2021
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imm.12497[2] https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/700397b2-edd7-4ed6-86f7-fc1b164ed432
