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Roles of STAT3 defined by tissue-specific gene targeting
1Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Oncogene
|June 13, 2000
Summary
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is essential for embryonic development. Tissue-specific STAT3 knockout mice reveal its critical roles in adult cell growth, apoptosis, and motility.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are crucial signaling molecules.
- Understanding the specific physiological roles of individual STAT proteins is vital.
- STAT3-deficient mice typically die during early embryogenesis, complicating adult tissue studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological role of STAT3 in adult tissues.
- To overcome the embryonic lethality of STAT3 deficiency.
- To analyze the functions of STAT3 in specific adult tissues.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Cre-loxP recombination system for tissue-specific gene ablation.
- Generated STAT3 knockout (KO) mice with a null allele for the STAT3 gene.
- Created tissue-specific STAT3-deficient mouse models.
Main Results:
- STAT3 deficiency leads to embryonic lethality.
- Tissue-specific deletion of STAT3 allowed for the study of its role in adult mice.
- STAT3 was found to be crucial for cell growth.
- STAT3 plays a role in the suppression and induction of apoptosis.
- STAT3 is involved in regulating cell motility.
Conclusions:
- STAT3 is indispensable for embryonic development.
- STAT3 plays critical roles in multiple biological functions in adult tissues.
- STAT3 is a key regulator of cell growth, apoptosis, and cell motility.