DUSPs, twists and turns in the Journey to Vascular Inflammation.

The MAPK phosphatase DUSP6/MKP-3 dephosphorylates ERK1 and 2 and negatively regulates ERK-dependent signaling. Hsu et al. now show that DUSP6/MKP-3 is required for the TNF-α-induced upregulation of the endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and neutrophil infiltration in endothelial cells, and interestingly, this positive role of DUSP6 on the inflammatory process is independent of ERK signaling.