The Stat3 paradox:a killer and an oncogene

Henrike K Resemann, Christine J Watson, Bethan Lloyd-Lewis

Research output: Contribution to journalReview article (Academic Journal)peer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stat proteins regulate many aspects of mammary gland development, including the profound changes that occur during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Stat3 induces transcriptional activation of genes involved in the inflammatory response, and in seemingly contradictory cellular events such as apoptosis, differentiation and stem cell maintenance. While Stat3 signalling during mammary gland involution induces epithelial cell death, aberrant Stat3 activation is widely implicated in breast tumourigenesis. Specific cytokines may initiate either a Stat3-driven proliferative or death response depending on the cell-type and cell-context specific availability of particular combinations of signals and receptors. The paradoxical functions of Stat3 may also be due to the degree and extent of activation in different circumstances, in addition to paracrine signalling between mammary epithelial cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Deciphering the enigmatic nature of Stat3 in the mammary gland may benefit future therapeutic strategies for inducing cell death in breast tumours.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)603-611
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume382
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jan 2014

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis/pathology
  • Cell Death
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammary Glands, Animal/growth & development
  • Mammary Glands, Human/growth & development
  • Oncogenes
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism

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