Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The STAT3 isoforms alpha and beta have unique and specific functions.

Diego Maritano1, Michelle L Sugrue, Silvia Tininini

  • 1Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.

Nature Immunology
|March 17, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

EML4-ALK mediates resistance to KRAS G12C inhibition and induces an oncogenic dependency by rewiring signaling through the wild-type RAS pathway.

Cancer discovery·2026
Same author

A targeted combination therapy achieves effective pancreatic cancer regression and prevents tumor resistance.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Tafasitamab plus lenalidomide and R-CHOP versus R-CHOP for first-line treatment of patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (frontMIND): a global, phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Lancet (London, England)·2026
Same author

Innate lymphoid cells integrate sensing and plasticity to control fungal infections.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

The dual role of azoles: lifesaving antifungals and drivers of resistance - a One Health perspective.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Epstein-Barr virus orchestrates spatial reorganization and immunomodulation in the classic Hodgkin lymphoma tumor microenvironment.

Cell reports. Medicine·2026

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) beta rescues STAT3-null mutations and activates genes. STAT3 alpha has unique roles in cytokine signaling and macrophage function, challenging previous assumptions about STAT3 beta.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mediates interleukin-6 (IL-6)-type cytokine signaling.
  • STAT3 exists as two isoforms: STAT3 alpha (full-length) and STAT3 beta (truncated).
  • STAT3 beta has been traditionally considered a dominant-negative factor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct in vivo functions of STAT3 alpha and STAT3 beta isoforms.
  • To determine if STAT3 beta acts as a dominant-negative factor.
  • To elucidate the nonredundant roles of STAT3 alpha.

Main Methods:

  • Gene targeting to ablate the expression of individual STAT3 isoforms.
  • In vivo rescue experiments of STAT3-null mutations.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of STAT3 target gene expression.

    • Main Results:

    • STAT3 beta is not a dominant-negative factor in vivo.
    • STAT3 beta expression can rescue embryonic lethality in STAT3-null mutations.
    • STAT3 beta can independently induce STAT3 target gene expression.
    • STAT3 alpha exhibits nonredundant functions, including modulating IL-6 responses and mediating IL-10 function in macrophages.

    Conclusions:

    • The functional roles of STAT3 isoforms are distinct and not fully redundant.
    • STAT3 beta possesses independent activating functions, contrary to its presumed dominant-negative role.
    • STAT3 alpha plays critical, nonredundant roles in specific cellular signaling pathways.