New Perspectives on STAT3 in Ulcerative Colitis: Molecular Mechanisms and Dual Roles

In recent years, the global incidence of ulcerative colitis has been on the rise. As a core hub in the pathogenesis of UC, the extensive aberrant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is a crucial cause of exacerbated intestinal inflammation, immune dysregulation, and imbalanced cell proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we systematically summarize the multidimensional regulatory mechanisms of STAT3 in UC, and further explore its dual roles in intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity along with the underlying mechanisms, clarifying that its functional properties shift with cell type, activation intensity and disease stage. Our objective is to facilitate further research on the mechanisms by which aberrant STAT3 function drives UC progression and to explore novel approaches for clinical translation.