New targets to treat inflammation

Immunology Some members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family promote the production of proinflammatory cytokines. As such, these kinases have been targeted for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Disappointing clinical trials with such drugs, however, have spurred the search for other candidate targets. Wilhelmsen et al. found that MAPK family member ERK5 promoted inflammatory responses to microbial products in human endothelial and immune cells. Inhibitors of ERK5 and its upstream activating kinase reduced systemic inflammation in mice with microbial infections or tissue injury. Sci. Signal. 8 , ra86 (2015).