• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Toxoplasma gondii provokes rapid and sustained nuclear translocation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) in HeLa cells. We observed activation of STAT6 as early as 2hr after infection with T. gondii by the nuclear translocation of fluorescence expressed from exogenously transfected pDsRed2-STAT6 plasmid and by the detection of phosphotyrosine-STAT6 in Western blot. STAT6 activation occurred only by infection with live tachyzoites but not by co-culture with killed tachyzoites or soluble T. gondii extracts. STAT6 phosphorylation was inhibited by small interfering RNA of STAT6 (siSTAT6). In view of the fact that STAT6 is a central mediator of IL-4 induced gene expression, activation of STAT6 by T. gondii infection resembles that infected host cells has been stimulated by IL-4 treatment. STAT1 was affected to increase the transcription and expression by the treatment of siSTAT6. STAT6 activation was not affected by any excess SOCS's whereas that with IL-4 was inhibited by SOCS-1 and SOCS-3. T. gondii infection induced Eotaxin-3 gene expression which was reduced by $IFN-{\gamma}$. These results demonstrate that T. gondii exploits host STAT6 to take away various harmful reactions by $IFN-{\gamma}$. This shows, for the first time, IL-4-like action by T. gondii infection modulates microbicidal action by $IFN-{\gamma}$ in infected cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.426-430
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• 2014

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer. Although prostate tumors respond to androgen ablation therapy at an early stage, they often acquire the potential of androgen-independent growth. Elevated transcriptional activity of androgen receptor (AR) and/or signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) contributes to the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes, on the reporter gene activity of AR and STAT3 in human prostate cancer (LNCaP-FGC) cells stimulated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and/or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Our study revealed that resveratrol suppressed the growth of LNCaP-FGC cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Whereas the AR transcriptional activity was induced by treatment with either IL-6 or DHT, the STAT3 transcriptional activity was induced only by treatment with IL-6 but not with DHT. Resveratrol significantly attenuated IL-6-induced STAT3 transcriptional activity, and DHT- or IL-6-induced AR transcriptional activity. Treatment of cells with DHT plus IL-6 significantly increased the AR transcriptional activity as compared to DHT or IL-6 treatment alone and resveratrol markedly diminished DHT plus IL-6-induced AR transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the production of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was decreased by resveratrol in the DHT-, IL-6- or DHT plus IL-6-treated LNCaP-FGC cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effects of resveratrol on IL-6- and/or DHT-induced AR transcriptional activity in LNCaP prostate cancer cells are partly mediated through the suppression of STAT3 reporter gene activity, suggesting that resveratrol may be a promising therapeutic choice for the treatment of prostate cancer.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.306-313
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• 2023

패혈증은 병원성 감염에 의해 여러 장기에 나타나는 전신성 염증 반응으로, 현재로서는 유망한 치료제가 없다. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)은 세포 신호전달 전사 인자로서 항염증 및 염증 반응과 관련된 다양한 세포의 생물학적 과정에서 중요한 역할을 한다. Niclosamide는 FDA에서 승인된 구충제로 STAT3 조절에 관여한다고 알려져 있다. C57BL/6 마우스에 복강 주사로 지질 다당체 (lipopolysaccharide, LPS)를 투여해 패혈증을 유발하였고, Niclosamide를 LPS 주사 2시간 후에 경구 투여하였다. 본 연구에서 Niclosamide가 LPS로 유발된 패혈증 모델의 생존률과 폐 손상을 완화시켰고, 혈청 내 interleukin (IL)-6, 종양괴사인자(tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α), IL-1β, AST, ALT, LDH 수치를 유의하게 감소시켰다. 또한 폐 조직 면역 블롯을 통해 PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, STAT3 신호 전달 경로가 Niclosamide에 의해 조절되는 것을 확인하였다. Niclosamide는 LPS를 자극한 RAW 264.7 세포주에서 IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β와 같은 염증성 사이토카인의 발현을 감소시켰으며, 또한 STAT3의 인산화를 감소시켰다. 본 연구를 통해 Niclosamide에 의한 STAT3 조절이 염증 반응을 억제함으로써 패혈증 모델에 대한 새로운 치료 전략을 제시하였다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2004

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system, we examined the expression and localization of STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 and STAT6 molecules during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by competitive PCR. In the present study, we quantitated IL-4 and IL-12 p40 mRNA by competitive PCR in the CNS during EAE. IL-4 mRNA was found at early and peak stages. On the other hand, the IL-12 p40 mRNA level reached maximal levels at the peak stage and still found at the recovery stage of the disease. We examined the kinetics of STAT mRNA in the CNS during EAE and demonstrated that STAT1 and STAT4 mRNA reached a maximal level at the peak stage of EAE, whereas STAT3 mRNA level increased gradually to the recovery stage. STAT6 mRNA increased rapidly at the early stage followed by gradual decrease till the recovery stage. Taken together, these findings suggest that STAT4 which was probably activated by IL-12 plays a pro-inflammatory role and that STAT3 which was activated throughout the disease course seems to serve as a transducer of anti-inflammatory signals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.161-168
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• 2009

In the peripheral nerves, injury-induced cytokines and growth factors perform critical functions in the activation of both the MEK/ERK and JAK/STAT3 pathways. In this study, we determined that nerve injury-induced ERK activation was temporally correlated with STAT3 phosphorylation at the serine 727 residue. In cultured Schwann cells, we noted that ERK activation is required for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 by neuropoietic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Serine phosphorylated STAT3 by IL-6 was transported into Schwann cell nuclei, thereby indicating that ERK may regulate the transcriptional activity of STAT3 via the induction of serine phosphorylation of STAT3. Neuregulin-1 (NRG) also induced the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ERK-dependent fashion. In contrast with the IL-6 response, serine phosphorylated STAT3 induced by NRG was not detected in the nucleus, thus indicating the non-nuclear function of serine phosphorylated STAT3 in response to NRG. Finally, we determined that the inhibition of ERK prevented injury-induced serine phosphorylation of STAT3 in an ex-vivo explants culture of the sciatic nerves. Collectively, the results of this study show that ERK may be an upstream kinase for the serine phosphorylation of STAT3 induced by multiple stimuli in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.46.1-46.16
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• 2023

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) affects all age group and occurs mainly in women. Pyroptosis is a novel programmed cell death featured with cell bursting and release of proinflammatory cytokines. A deeper understanding of AIH pathogenesis will contribute to novel therapy for AIH patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of IL-17 in immune-mediated liver injury. The levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA, and mRNA levels of STAT3 and IFN gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) were detected by PCR. Expressions of STAT3, IFI16, gasdermin D and cleaved caspase-1 were measured by western-blotting. Immunohistochemical staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to evaluate liver histopathological changes of the treated mice. Our results showed that the levels of IFI16 was increased in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further elevated after STAT3-overexpressed (STAT3-OE) lentivirus treatment. The levels of IFI16 were reduced in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 neutralizing Ab (nAb), but were significantly increased after STAT3-OE treatment. Pyroptosis was observed in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further cell damage was observed after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. Liver damage was alleviated in mice treated with IL-17 nAb, however sever damage was experienced after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. A binding interaction between IFI16 and STAT3 was detected in IL-17 treated hepatocytes. Glutathione transaminase activity was enhanced in concanavalin A-induced AIH mice compared to the control group (p<0.01). IL-17 plays an important role in activating STAT3 and up-regulating IFI16, which may promote the pyroptosis in AIH-related liver injury through STAT3-IFI16 axis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.856-862
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• 2019

A series of thienopyrimidine compounds (6Aa-g and 6Ba-d) were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These compounds (6Aa-g and 6Ba-d) potently inhibited STAT3 expression induced by IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ values of $5.73-0.32{\mu}M$. Among the prepared thienopyrimidine derivatives, 6Aa, 6Ab, 6Ba and 6Bc significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3 and ERK1/2 stimulated by IL-6 in Hep3B cells. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds might be useful remedies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases by inhibiting the action of IL-6.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.484-488
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• 2001

STATs are proteins with a dual function: signal transducers in the cytoplasm and transcriptional activators in the nucleus. Among the six known major STATs (STAT1-6), STAT3 has been implicated in the widest range of signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation. As a part of our on-going investigation on the pleiotropic functions of STAT proteins, we examined the role of STAT3 as a molecular adaptor that links diverse cell growth signaling pathways. We observed that STAT3 can be specifically activated by multiple cytokines, such as IL-3, in transformed fibroblasts and IL-4 or IFN-$\gamma$ in primary immune cells, respectively. The selective activation of STAT3 in H-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells is associated with an increased expression of phosphoserioe STAT3 in these cells, compared to the parental cells. Notably phosphoresine-STAT3 interacts with oncogenic ras, shown by immunoprecipitation and Western blots. The results suggest the role of STAT3 in rasinduced cellular transformation as a molecular adaptor linking the Jak/STAT and Ras/MAPK pathways. In primary immune cells, IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ each induced (in addition to the characteristic STAT6 and STAT1 homodimers) the formation of STAT3-containing complexes that bind to GAS probes, which correspond to the $Fe{\varepsilon}$ Rll and $Fe{\gamma}$ RI promoter sequences, respectively. Since IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ are known to counter-regulate the expression of these genes, the ability of STAT3 to form heterodimeric complexes with STAT6 or STAT1 implies its role in the fine-tuned control of genes that are regulated by IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.516-521
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• 2014

전립선암은 발병률이 높은 암종 중에 하나이다. 전립선 치료제인 flutamide는 androgen 수용체의 호르몬 치료제로서 내성효과에 대한 기본 메커니즘은 명확하지 않다. 본 연구에서는 flutamide에 의해 유도되는 호르몬 불응성 전립선 암세포 성장에서 포도 성분인 resveratrol의 억제효과를 조사하였다. 본 연구의 결과를 통해 호르몬 비의존적인 신호전달의 전환으로 유발되는 호르몬 불응성 전립선 암에서 resveratrol은 예방 및 항암효과에 기여할 것이라 판단된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2009

The binding of interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine family ligands to the gp130 receptor complex activates the Janus kinase (JAK)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signal transduction pathway, where STA T3 plays an important role in cell survival and tumorigenesis. Constitutive activation of STAT3 has been frequently observed in many cancer tissues, and thus, blocking of the gp130 signaling pathway, at the JAK level, might be a useful therapeutic approach for the suppression of STAT3 activity, as anticancer therapy. AG490 is a tyrphostin tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been extensively used for inhibiting JAK2 in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate a novel mechanism associated with AG490 that inhibits the JAK/STAT3 pathway. AG490 induced downregulation of gp130, a common receptor for the IL-6 cytokine family compounds, but not JAK2 or STAT3, within three hours of exposure. The downregulation of gp130 was not caused by enhanced degradation of gp130 or by inhibition of mRNA transcription. It most likely occurred by translation inhibition of gp130 in association with phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2 a. The inhibition of protein synthesis of gp130 by AG490 led to immediate loss of mature gp130 in cell membranes, due to its short half-life, thereby resulting in reduction in the STAT3 response to IL-6. Taken together, these results suggest that AG490 blocks the STAT3 activation pathway via a novel pathway.