Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
07:23
Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome
Published on: June 15, 2016
7.6K
STAT3 Activity and Function in Cancer: Modulation by STAT5 and miR-146b.
Sarah R Walker1, Michael Xiang2, David A Frank3
1Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Departments of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sarah_walker@dfci.harvard.edu.
Cancers
|April 26, 2014
Summary
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is crucial for cell growth and survival. Its dysregulation drives cancer, but other factors like STAT5 and microRNAs modulate its effects.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates key cellular processes: proliferation, survival, pluripotency, and motility.
- Under physiological conditions, STAT3 activity is tightly controlled within a complex signaling network.
- Dysregulated STAT3, due to mutations or epigenetic changes, promotes malignant cellular behavior by upregulating specific genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of STAT3 signaling in human cancer biology.
- To explore emerging modulators of STAT3 activity in cancer.
- To identify novel therapeutic strategies targeting STAT3 pathways.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of STAT3 gene regulation in cancer cells.
- Investigating the impact of STAT5 activation on STAT3 signaling.
- Examining the role of microRNAs, such as miR-146b, in STAT3 negative feedback circuits.
- Correlating STAT3 pathway alterations with clinical tumor behavior.
Main Results:
- Activated STAT3 drives gene expression linked to malignant phenotypes.
- Other cellular factors, including STAT5 and specific microRNAs (e.g., miR-146b), significantly influence cancer cell properties.
- These modulators impact the clinical presentation and progression of tumors.
Conclusions:
- STAT3 is a critical oncogenic driver, but its effects are nuanced by other signaling pathways.
- Understanding STAT5 and microRNA involvement in STAT3 regulation offers new insights into cancer pathogenesis.
- Targeting these complex STAT3 interactions may lead to more effective cancer therapies.
Related Concept Videos
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
3.6K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.6K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
1.5K
1.5K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
4.0K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.0K
01:22MicroRNAs
21.1K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
21.1K
01:22MicroRNAs
3.0K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.0K
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
10.2K
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...
10.2K