Suofu Qin’s work on studies of cell survival signaling in cancer and epithelial cells

Figure 5 Potential roles of AMP-activated protein kinase, heat-shock protein-90, interleukin-8, and MTases in the development of retinal diseases. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 controls expression of antioxidant genes while AMPKα2 maintains assembly of tight junctions in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Heat-shock protein-90 (HSP90) can function as a danger signal once released from injured cells or as a holding chaperone for assembly of inflammatory signaling complex. Interleukin (IL)-8 causes RPE cell injury via an autocrine feedback activity. MTases promote transcription of inflammation genes through methylation of proteins and DNA. MTases: S-adenosylmethionine-methyltransferases; PRRs: Pattern-recognition receptors; ISC: Inflammatory signaling components; TFs: Transcription factors.