Fig. 11.
Cytokine mediated signal transduction pathways and drug resistance. Cytokines such as IL-3 can induce multiple signal transduction pathways which can effect the expression of apoptotic molecules by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Elevated ERK in FL/Doxo cells may phosphorylate Mcl-1 which results in its stabilization. This may result in prolonged binding to Bax, prevent activation of Bax, contribute to the prevention of apoptosis and lead to drug resistance.