ALPK1 and gout: ALPK1 is thought to act synergistically with monosodium urate monohydrate crystals to promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through the activation of nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2 and p38) signaling in cultured HEK293 cells, indicating that ALPK1 may contribute to inflammation associated with the development of gout (58).