Signaling by STATs. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • A variety of cytokines and growth factors use the Janus kinase (Jak)-STAT signaling pathway to transmit extracellular signals to the nucleus. STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcription) are latent cytoplasmic transcription factors. There are seven mammalian STATs and they have critical, nonredundant roles in mediating cellular transcriptional responses to cytokines. The physiological roles of STATs have been elucidated by analysis of mice rendered deficient in STAT genes. STAT activation is regulated and can be modulated in a positive or negative fashion; it can be reprogrammed to drive different cellular responses. Several auto-regulatory and signaling crosstalk mechanisms for regulating Jak-STAT signaling have been described. Understanding and manipulation of the function of STATs will help in the development of therapeutic strategies for diseases that are regulated by cytokines.

publication date

  • June 21, 2004

Research

keywords

  • Signal Transduction
  • Trans-Activators

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC464899

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 4444304451

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/art.11096

PubMed ID

  • 15225360

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 6

issue

  • 4