MAPK8 and nutritional deficiency disease: The function of JNK in apoptosis is complex, depending on cell type, nature of the death stimulus, duration of its activation and the activity of other signaling pathways.27, 28, 29 In addition to apoptosis, JNK also contributes to autophagic induction in response to stress signals, for instance, incidences of nutrition deficiency,30 cytokine and growth factor decreases,31 and chemotherapy drugs.32