Abstract

The endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for much of a cell's protein synthesis and folding, but it also has an important role in sensing cellular stress. Recently, it has been shown that the endoplasmic reticulum mediates a specific set of intracellular signalling pathways in response to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins, and these pathways are collectively known as the unfolded-protein response. New observations suggest that the unfolded-protein response can initiate inflammation, and the coupling of these responses in specialized cells and tissues is now thought to be fundamental in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The knowledge gained from this emerging field will aid in the development of therapies for modulating cellular stress and inflammation.

1. Department of Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan Medical Center, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
2. Present address: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
3. Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical Center, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
4. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Michigan Medical Center, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.

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