Figure 1.

The role and molecular pathway of IL-32 in cancer. IL-32 activates 3 pathways: The P38-MAPK, NF-κB/STAT-3 and PI3K/Akt pathways. The activation of these pathways modifies the expression of several genes that affect cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion, and carcinogenic angiogenesis and inflammation, causing tumorigenic effects. IL, interleukin; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB; Bcl, B-cell lymphoma; Mcl-1, induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein 1; XIAP, x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis; PUMA, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Akt, protein kinase B; HIF, hypoxia-inducible factor; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.