THE ROLE OF p38 MAPK INHIBITORS IN THE REGULATION OF INFLAMMATORY PATHWAYS: A REVIEW OF MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL
PERAN INHIBITOR p38 MAPK DALAM REGULASI JALUR INFLAMASI: TINJAUAN MEKANISME MOLEKULER DAN POTENSI TERAPEUTIK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51771/fj.v6i02.2225Keywords:
Antiinflammatory, drug, molecular mechanism, p38 MAPKAbstract
Inflammation is a physiological defense mechanism against infection, tissue injury, and exposure to foreign substances. However, chronic inflammation contributes to the development of various diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, making it a promising therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory drug development. This review aimed to evaluate the role of p38 MAPK inhibitors in the management of inflammation, with a particular focus on their molecular mechanisms and recent therapeutic advances in inflammatory diseases. A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases for articles published between 2015 and 2025, employing the keywords “anti-inflammatory,” “drug,” and “p38 MAPK.” Following the selection process, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, eight studies directly investigated compounds acting as p38 MAPK inhibitors to suppress inflammatory responses, while the remaining two focused on the molecular mechanisms of the MAPK signaling pathway and the therapeutic potential of p38 MAPK as a molecular target. The findings demonstrated that compounds such as lidocaine, parecoxib, and scutellarin effectively inhibited p38 MAPK activation, reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improved cell survival. Overall, p38 MAPK inhibitors exhibit considerable therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, further preclinical and clinical studies are required to optimize their efficacy, safety, and long-term therapeutic outcomes.
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