IL-23 induces spondyloarthropathy by acting on ROR-γt+ CD3+CD4−CD8− entheseal resident T cells

There is general agreement that signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) is required to mediate the anti-inflammatory activities of interleukin (IL)-10. However, STAT3 is activated by multiple factors that do not share the anti-inflammatory activity of IL-10. The question remains whether STAT3 is sufficient for the anti-inflammatory effects or whether there are other signals required, as had been suggested previously. We set out to map the human IL-10 receptor and to identify the key elements involved in transducing the cytokine-suppressive effects of IL-10. We were able to show an absolute requirement for both of the tyrosine residues found within the YXXQ-STAT3-docking site within the IL-10 receptor 1 and that no other signals appeared to be required. We used a constitutively active STAT3 to determine whether expression of this factor could suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor and IL-6 production. Our data show that STAT3 activity can suppress both IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. However, in synovial fibroblasts, STAT3 did not suppress IL-6 production, suggesting that the cellular environment plays an important role in dictating whether STAT3 drives a pro- or anti-inflammatory response.

A Sticky Story for Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 in Platelets

Interleukin-6 Receptor-Mediated Activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 (STAT3) Promotes Choroidal Neovascularization

Is activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) via interleukin-6 (IL-6) trans-signaling involved in fibrosis of endometriosis? Persistent activation of STAT3 via IL-6 trans-signaling is involved in fibrosis of endometriosis. Our previous study showed that sustained low-grade inflammation promotes a fibrotic phenotype in endometriotic stromal cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of the establishment of non-resolving, low-grade inflammation in endometriosis remain to be clarified. Endometrial and/or endometriotic samples of 60 patients who had histological evidence of deep endometriosis and endometrial samples from 32 healthy fertile women were analyzed. The effects of priming with ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2, 3 and 4 on secretion of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-10 [CXCL-10], IL6 and IL-10) after a second challenge with TLR ligands in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were investigated. Then, the effects of IL-6/soluble (s) IL-6 receptor (R)/STAT3 signaling, as well as inhibition of STAT3 activation by knockdown of STAT3 or pharmacological inhibition (S3I-201), on the pro-fibrotic phenotype in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells in vitro were investigated. Priming with TLR ligands for 4 h had no significant effects, whereas 24 h of priming significantly decreased secretion of IL-6, after a second challenge in endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. In endometriotic stromal cells, whereas 24 h of priming had no significant effects, priming with TLR ligands for 4 h significantly increased secretion of IL-6 after a second challenge. IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) induced a pro-fibrotic phenotype (cell proliferation, collagen type I synthesis, α-smooth muscle actin positive stress fibers, cell migration and collagen gel contraction) as well as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation of endometriotic stromal cells. In contrast, IL-6/sIL-6R had no significant effects on either a pro-fibrotic phenotype or NF-κB activation of endometrial stromal cells of healthy women. Stimulation with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and/or IL-6/sIL-6R for 1 h and 48 h activated STAT3, but induced very low or no suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3 protein expression in endometriotic stromal cells. In endometrial stromal cells of healthy women, IL-6/sIL-6R-induced STAT3 and SOCS1/3 expression at 1 h, whereas no STAT3 activation was detected at 48 h. Knockdown of STAT3 gene or S3I-201 (a STAT3 inhibitor) decreased the IL-6/sIL-6R-induced pro-fibrotic phenotype as well as NF-κB activation and TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation of endometriotic stromal cells. N/A. In vivo studies are required to confirm the present in vitro results. However, it remains challenging to mimic non-resolving chronic inflammation in animal models, as active inflammation can resolve spontaneously. Dysfunction of negative regulators of IL-6/sIL-6R/STAT3 signaling may cause persistent activation of STAT3 in endometriosis. Since STAT3 activation in the endometrium is essential for successful embryo implantation, treatment with STAT3 inhibitors would not be appropriate for women wishing to conceive. However, targeting impaired negative regulation of IL-6/sIL-6R/STAT3 signaling may still represent a promising avenue for the treatment of endometriosis. This study was supported in part by the KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG (Tuttlingen, Germany). There are no conflicts of interest.

Signaling of interleukin 23 (IL-23) via the IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) and the shared IL-12 receptor β1 (IL-12Rβ1) controls innate and adaptive immune responses and is involved in the differentiation and expansion of IL-17-producing CD4(+) T helper (TH17) cells. Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) appears to be the major signaling pathway of IL-23, and STAT binding sites were predicted in the IL-23R but not in the IL-12Rβ1 chain. Using site-directed mutagenesis and deletion variants of the murine and human IL-23R, we showed that the predicted STAT binding sites (pYXXQ; including Tyr-504 and Tyr-626 in murine IL-23R and Tyr-484 and Tyr-611 in human IL-23R) mediated STAT3 activation. Furthermore, we identified two uncommon STAT3 binding/activation sites within the murine IL-23R. First, the murine IL-23R carried the Y(542)PNFQ sequence, which acts as an unusual Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-binding protein activation site of STAT3. Second, we identified a non-canonical, phosphotyrosine-independent STAT3 activation motif within the IL-23R. A third predicted site, Tyr-416 in murine and Tyr-397 in human IL-23R, is involved in the activation of PI3K/Akt and the MAPK pathway leading to STAT3-independent proliferation of Ba/F3 cells upon stimulation with IL-23. In contrast to IL-6-induced short term STAT3 phosphorylation, cellular activation by IL-23 resulted in a slower but long term STAT3 phosphorylation, indicating that the IL-23R might not be a major target of negative feedback inhibition by suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins. In summary, we characterized IL-23-dependent signal transduction with a focus on STAT3 phosphorylation and identified canonical tyrosine-dependent and non-canonical tyrosine-independent STAT3 activation sites in the IL-23R.

Cell Type–Dependent Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Role of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 in Alcoholic Liver Injury

The growth of most melanoma cells in vitro is inhibited by the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In this study, the involvement of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the TPA-induced growth inhibition of melanoma cells was examined. The in vitro growth and DNA synthesis of five melanoma cell lines, whose STAT3 was activated (phosphorylated), was inhibited by TPA, whereas that of WM35 and WM39 cells, whose STAT3 activity was at negligible levels, was considerably slow and not affected by TPA. Blockade of STAT3 activity by small interfering RNAs suppressed the growth of WM1205Lu cells containing constitutively activated STAT3. Treatment of WM1205Lu cells with TPA decreased both the phosphorylated STAT3 and the DNA-binding activity of STAT3. Pretreatment of WM1205Lu cells with either a protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor or a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor prevented the inhibitory effects of TPA on the level of phosphorylated STAT3. The five melanoma cell lines containing phosphorylated STAT3 commonly expressed PKCalpha, PKCdelta, and PKCepsilon. Introduction of the dominant negative mutant of one of these PKC isoforms into WM1205Lu cells inhibited the TPA-induced dephosphorylation of STAT3. A Src inhibitor attenuated the STAT3 phosphorylation in WM1205Lu cells. These results indicate that constitutively activated STAT3 is positively regulated by c-Src and negatively regulated by a PKC-activated tyrosine phosphatase(s) in melanoma cells. Because TPA did not affect c-Src activity, we conclude that the growth inhibitory effect of TPA on melanoma cells is mediated through inactivation of STAT3 by a PKC-activated tyrosine phosphatase(s).

Adding Fuel to the Fire: STAT3 Priming of Gastric Tumorigenesis

GP130-STAT3 Regulates Epithelial Cell Migration and Is Required for Repair of the Bronchiolar Epithelium

Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Inhibits Interleukin-6 Signaling through Impaired STAT3 Activation and Association with Transcriptional Coactivators in Hepatocytes

Signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key transcription factor implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis. Although Stat3 deletion in tubular epithelial cells is known to protect mice from fibrosis, vFoxd1 cells remains unclear. Using Foxd1-mediated Stat3 knockout mice, CRISPR, and inhibitors of STAT3, we investigate its function. STAT3 is phosphorylated in tubular epithelial cells in acute kidney injury, whereas it is expanded to interstitial cells in fibrosis in mice and humans. Foxd1-mediated deletion of Stat3 protects mice from folic-acid- and aristolochic-acid-induced kidney fibrosis. Mechanistically, STAT3 upregulates the inflammation and differentiates pericytes into myofibroblasts. STAT3 activation increases migration and profibrotic signaling in genome-edited, pericyte-like cells. Conversely, blocking Stat3 inhibits detachment, migration, and profibrotic signaling. Furthermore, STAT3 binds to the Collagen1a1 promoter in mouse kidneys and cells. Together, our study identifies a previously unknown function of STAT3 that promotes kidney fibrosis and has therapeutic value in fibrosis.

Recurrent fractures and delayed fracture healing are key clinical manifestations of autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (AD-HIES), caused by heterozygous mutations and loss-of-function variants in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these defects remain unclear, and effective therapies are limited. In this study, we observed significantly delayed healing in pre-osteoblast-specific STAT3 haploinsufficient mice, mirroring the delayed healing seen in patients with AD-HIES. Inducible Col1a2-CreERT2 labels periosteal progenitors and contributes to the majority of chondrocytes and osteoblasts during fracture healing. Conditional STAT3 deficiency in Col1+ cells blocked fracture healing by disrupting endochondral ossification and stem cell mobilization. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that STAT3 deficiency reduced the abundance of C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12) mesenchymal cells, essential for fracture healing. CXCL12 directly enhanced chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of STAT3-deficient periosteal cells (PCs) and indirectly promoted vascularization through crosstalk between PCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. STAT3 directly regulates CXCL12 transcription by promoting promoter activity. Notably, CXCL12 improved fracture healing blocked by complete osteoblast STAT3 deficiency and alleviated delayed healing associated with pre-osteoblast STAT3 haploinsufficiency. Pharmacological STAT3 activation effectively also improved delayed healing and promoted CXCL12 expression. These findings demonstrate that STAT3 dysregulation disrupts endochondral ossification and stem cell mobilization via CXCL12, a promising therapeutic target for improving fracture healing in patients with AD-HIES and other conditions with skeletal fragility.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is a key mediator in the development of many cancers. For 20 years, it has been assumed that Stat3 mediates its biological activities as a nuclear localized transcription factor activated by many cytokines. However, recent studies from this laboratory and others indicate that Stat3 has an independent function in the mitochondria (mitoStat3) where it controls the activity of the electron transport chain (ETC) and mediates Ras-induced transformation of mouse embryo fibroblasts. The actions of mitoStat3 in controlling respiration and Ras transformation are mediated by the phosphorylation state of serine 727. To address the role of mitoStat3 in the pathogenesis of cells that are transformed, we used 4T1 breast cancer cells, which form tumors that metastasize in immunocompetent mice. Substitution of Ser-727 for an alanine or aspartate in Stat3 that has a mitochondrial localization sequence, MLS-Stat3, has profound effects on tumor growth, complex I activity of the ETC, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cells expressing MLS-Stat3(S727A) display slower tumor growth, decreased complex I activity of the ETC, and increased ROS accumulation under hypoxia compared with cells expressing MLS-Stat3. In contrast, cells expressing MLS-Stat3(S727D) show enhanced tumor growth and complex I activity and decreased production of ROS. These results highlight the importance of serine 727 of mitoStat3 in breast cancer and suggest a novel role for mitoStat3 in regulation of ROS concentrations through its action on the ETC.

Recent studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) that plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying H. pylori-mediated STAT3 activation is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated H. pylori-induced activation of STAT3 signaling in AGS human gastric cancer cells and the underlying mechanism. AGS cells were cocultured with H. pylori, and STAT3 activation was assessed by Western blot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunocytochemistry. To demonstrate the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H. pylori-activated STAT3 signaling, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine was utilized. The expression and production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The interaction between IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) was determined by the immunoprecipitation assay. H. pylori activates STAT3 as evidenced by increases in phosphorylation on Tyr(705) , nuclear localization, DNA binding and transcriptional activity of this transcription factor. The nuclear translocation of STAT3 was also observed in H. pylori-inoculated mouse stomach. In the subsequent study, we found that H. pylori-induced STAT3 phosphorylation was dependent on IL-6. Notably, the increased IL-6 expression and the IL-6 and IL-6R binding were mediated by ROS produced as a consequence of H. pylori infection. H. pylori-induced STAT3 activation is mediated, at least in part, through ROS-induced upregulation of IL-6 expression. These findings provide a novel molecular mechanism responsible for H. pylori-induced gastritis and gastric carcinogenesis.

BackgroundA major obstacle in treating colorectal cancer (CRC) is the acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. An important protein in the regulation of cancer cell death and clinical outcome is Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP). In contrast, activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a protein that promotes tumor cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis and has an important role in cancer progression in many of cancer types. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regulation of RKIP and STAT3 after treatment with clinically relevant chemotherapeutic agents (camptothecin (CPT) and oxaliplatin (OXP)) and the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in HCT116 colon cancer cells as well as evaluate the association between RKIP and STAT3 with clinical outcome of Stage II colon cancer patients.MethodsHCT-116 colon cancer cells were treated with CPT, OXP, and IL-6 separately or in combination in a time and dose-dependent manner and examined for phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated RKIP and STAT3 via Western blot analysis. STAT3 transcriptional activity was measured via a luciferase reporter assay in HCT116 cells treated with CPT, IL-6 or transfected with JAK 1, 2 separately or in combination. We extended these observations and determined STAT3 and RKIP/ pRKIP in tumor microarrays (TMA) in stage II colon cancer patients.ResultsWe demonstrate IL-6-mediated activation of STAT3 occurs in conjunction with the phosphorylation of RKIP in vitro in human colon cancer cells. OXP and CPT block IL-6 mediated STAT3 activation and RKIP phosphorylation via the inhibition of the interaction of STAT3 with gp130. We determined that STAT3 and nuclear pRKIP are significantly associated with poor patient prognosis in stage II colon cancer patients.ConclusionsIn the analysis of tumor samples from stage II colon cancer patients and the human colon carcinoma cell line HCT116, pRKIP and STAT3, 2 proteins potentially involved in the resistance to conventional treatments were detected. The phosphorylation of pRKIP and STAT3 are induced by the cytokine IL-6 and suppressed by the chemotherapeutic drugs CPT and OXP. Therefore, these results suggest that STAT3 and pRKIP may serve as prognostic biomarkers in stage II colon cancer patients and may improve chemotherapy.