PubMed · 15021879
The STAT3 isoforms alpha and beta have unique and specific functions.
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is the main mediator of interleukin 6 (IL-6)-type cytokine signaling. It exists in two isoforms: the full-length STAT3 alpha and the truncated STAT3 beta, generally thought to act as a dominant negative factor. To assess their relative functions, we ablated the expression of either isoform by gene targeting. We show here that in vivo STAT3 beta is not a dominant negative factor. Its expression can rescue the embryonic lethality of a STAT3-null mutation and it can by itself induce the expression of specific STAT3 target genes. Nevertheless, STAT3 alpha has nonredundant roles such as modulation of cellular responses to IL-6 and mediation of IL-10 function in macrophages.
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Diego Maritano, Michelle L Sugrue, Silvia Tininini, Sarah Dewilde, Birgit Strobl, XinPing Fu, Victoria Murray-Tait, Roberto Chiarle, Valeria Poli. 2004-03-14. The STAT3 isoforms alpha and beta have unique and specific functions.. https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1052
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