MAP3K5 and chronic atrophic gastritis: In particular, ASK1 in inflammatory cells plays a critical role for preventing gastric atrophy and metaplastic changes through IL-1β release, TH1-polarized immune responses, and the recruitment of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), while ASK1 in epithelial cells regulates stem/progenitor cell proliferation.