- The MEKK1-JNK pathway plays a protective role in pressure overload but does not mediate cardiac hypertrophy. Sadoshima, J., Montagne, O., Wang, Q., Yang, G., Warden, J., Liu, J., Takagi, G., Karoor, V., Hong, C., Johnson, G.L., Vatner, D.E., Vatner, S.F. J. Clin. Invest. (2002)