Abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)，which are one of the most important signal transduction systems in organisms, are involved in many biological processes，such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. There are four members in MAPKs family, including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), p38 and ERK5/big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(BMK1). MAPKs play an important role in the development of inflammation, cancer and some other diseases. In this article, recent advances concerning the roles and mechanisms of MAPKs in the development of periodontitis were reviewed.

Key words: MAPKs, ERK, JNK, p38, BMK1, periodontitis