MAPK8 and endothelial dysfunction: To test whether abnormal activation of MAPK (Extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERK), P38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)), Wnt, or ErbB signaling pathway gave rise to functional consequences, we therefore examined if inhibition of specific signaling pathways can rescue CdCl2-induced apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction in H9-ECs.