Figure 6

Schematic summary of the pro-life role of JNK and p38MAPK at RVLM during experimental brain stem death. Phosphorylation of MAP2K4 or MAP2K6, leading to activation of JNK or p38MAPK, and followed by nuclear activation of transcription factors ATF-2 or c-Jun, but not Elk-1, take place in RVLM preferentially during the pro-life phase of experimental brain stem death. Proteins that are downstream to these signaling cascades in turn sustain central cardiovascular regulation during the progression towards brain stem death. Abbreviation: ATF-2, activating transcriptional factor-2; JNK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase; CV, cardiovascular; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MAP2K4, MAPK kinase 4; MAP2K6, MAPK kinase 6; Mev, mevinphos; p38MAPK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase; RVLM, rostral ventrolateral medulla.