MAPK8IP2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 interacting protein 2) is a scaffold protein that selectively mediates JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling by organizing components of the MAPK cascade into functional signaling modules 1. The protein interacts with kinesin motor proteins to regulate vesicle transport and concentrate signaling pathways at specific cellular locations 1. MAPK8IP2 inhibits IL-1β-induced apoptosis in insulin-secreting cells and functions in diverse cellular processes including synaptic transmission and dendrite morphogenesis. Clinically, MAPK8IP2 has emerged as a significant prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer. High MAPK8IP2 expression correlates with adverse clinicopathological features, poor survival outcomes, and progression-free intervals 23. MAPK8IP2 expression is upregulated by androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer cells, with persistent expression in castration-resistant disease 3. Knockdown of MAPK8IP2 inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion 2. Additionally, MAPK8IP2 was identified as one of nine genes mediating the causal association between rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung disease 4, and is upregulated in colorectal cancer with high CARD11 expression 5. The compound ACES effectively downregulates MAPK8IP2 expression as part of its p38/SAPK pathway inhibition and apoptosis-inducing activities 6.