Figure 1.

p38α inhibition: A new approach to fight inflammation and colorectal cancer. Autophagy plays a crucial role in the intestine, where it can have a pro-survival or a pro-death effect, acting as a defense/attack strategy in inflammation/immune related diseases and in colorectal cancer development. In this context, manipulation of p38α, one of its key players, may represent a promising tool to fight both inflammatory diseases (i.e., IBD) and cancer. The p38α inhibition attenuates cytokine secretion, thus reducing inflammation, and in combined therapies it has been shown to enhance the efficacy of currently used drugs. Indeed, inhibition of p38α promotes FoxO3A-dependent gene expression, inhibits HIF1α activity and boosts the autophagic response.