Activation of a functionally distinct 80-kDa STAT5 isoform by IL-5 and GM-CSF in human eosinophils and neutrophils

Interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-3, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are hematopoietic cytokines which signal through a common beta subunit (betac) of a heterodimeric receptor. Among the intracellular signaling pathways activated via betac is the JAK/STAT pathway. We show that different STAT5 isoforms are activated by IL-5 and GM-CSF in eosinophils, neutrophils, and differentiated eosinophilic HL-60 cells. Whereas IL-5 activated the wild-type STAT5A and STAT5B proteins in HL60-eos cells, a carboxyl-terminally truncated 80-kDa STAT5 isoform was activated in mature eosinophils and neutrophils. Surprisingly, while both isoforms bind strongly to an element from the beta-casein promoter, only p80 STAT5 binds to the ICAM1-IRE. Consequently, a carboxyl-terminal truncated STAT5 is capable of blocking STAT3-mediated transcription of an IREtkCAT reporter construct. The cell type-specific expression of these functionally distinct STAT5 isoforms might contribute to the pleiotropic effects of IL-5 and GM-CSF on different target cells.