STAT3 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor)

Genomics

See Also

• [G Quartet oligonucleotides]?
• Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
• [Transcription Factor]?

Description

Gene type: protein coding Gene name: STAT3 Gene description: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor) Chromosome: 17; Location: 17q21.31

STAT3 is a [Transcription Factor? transcription factor], a protein that helps transcribe certain genes. It has been found to be active in many parts of the human body including the liver, after partial removal (hepatectomy) of the organ.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the STAT protein family. In response to cytokines and growth factors, STAT family members are phosphorylated by the receptor associated kinases, and then form homo- or heterodimers that translocate to the cell nucleus where they act as transcription activators. This protein is activated through phosphorylation in response to various cytokines and growth factors including IFNs, EGF, IL5, IL6, HGF, LIF and BMP2. This protein mediates the expression of a variety of genes in response to cell stimuli, and thus plays a key role in many cellular processes such as cell growth and apoptosis. The small GTPase Rac1 has been shown to bind and regulate the activity of this protein. PIAS3 protein is a specific inhibitor of this protein. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been described.

Discussion

• Results suggest that p-ser727-STAT3 may be involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer in an ER-dependent manner. Pubmed
• Results indicate that genetic variants in STAT3, independent of asthma treatment, are determinants of FEV1 in both adults and children with asthma. Pubmed
• Repression of tumor protein p53 expression by Stat3 is likely to have an important role in development of tumors. Pubmed
• Activation by leptin is associated with gastric cancer cell proliferation. Pubmed
• STAT3 activation is capable of initiating intracellular antiviral pathways Pubmed
• STAT3 activity is significantly increased in both prostate cancer and adjacent normal prostate tissue; activation may be an early event in prostatic epithelial carcinogenesis Pubmed

Links

• What does STAT3 do?