Mnk kinase pathway: Cellular functions and biological outcomes

Figure 3 Biological functions of Mnk kinases. The Mnk kinases play an important role in multiple biological processes. Mnk1/2 can regulate tumor biology by mediating the translation of multiple genes that promote tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis. They also mediate resistance to chemotherapy as well as targeted therapy agents such as trastuzumab, imatinib, gemcitabine, etc. Mnk kinases are also implicated in regulating cap dependent translation of oncogenes as well as viral mRNA. Additionally the Mnk kinases play an important role in mediating the production of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, RANTES and IL-17 and also mediate cellular responses to multiple cytokines such as Type I and Type II IFNs, IL-2, IL-15 and TGF-β. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IL: Interleukin; RANTES: Regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted; TGF: Transforming growth factor; MMP3: Matrix metalloprotease 3; IRES: Internal ribosome entry sites; IFNs: Interferons.