Mitogen-activated protein kinase–activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAPK2 or MK2) is an intracellular serine/threonine kinase substrate downstream from p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and its activation by p38 is implicated in many inflammatory diseases including postoperative ileus, pancreatitis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. The gene discussed is MAPKAPK2; the disease is atherosclerosis.