Transfection techniques affecting Stat3 activity levels

Transfection techniques, such as calcium-phosphate or liposome-mediated gene transfer, are commonly used for the examination of the effect of a gene upon cellular phenotype and biochemical properties. We previously demonstrated that cell to cell adhesion causes a dramatic increase in Stat3 activity. Given that the opportunities for cell to cell adhesion could be altered due to the presence of the DNA-containing complexes, we examined the effect of the calcium-phosphate transfection procedure upon Stat3 activity levels. The results revealed a dramatic increase in Stat3 phosphorylation at the critical tyr705 site and Stat3 activity following calcium-phosphate transfection. This increase was noted even in the absence of DNA and was not due to the mere presence of calcium ions. In contrast, DNA introduction through electroporation or infection with a retroviral vector did not affect Stat3 activity, while cationic lipids such as lipofectamine or Fugene6 had a less pronounced effect than calcium-phosphate transfection. These results indicate that caution is required in the interpretation of results with regard to activity of Stat3 following certain commonly used transient transfection regimens.     

STAT3 入核分子机制的初步研究

为了研究Stat3入核的分子机制,将SV40大T抗原的经典核定位序列NLS(nuclear localization sequence)分别融合在Stat3-GFP分子和缺失突变体Dstat3-GFP的分子之间,构建Stat3-NLS-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP融合分子。转染293T细胞,以NLS-GFP为阳性对照,通过激光共聚焦显微镜的观察融合分子的亚细胞位置,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-NLS-GFP和经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP呈胞核分布,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP呈胞浆分布,初步证明Stat3入核是由于获得了核定位序列。     

Stat3 activation in acute lung injury

Stat3 plays diverse roles in biological processes including cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, and inflammation. Very little is known regarding its activation and function in the lung during acute inflammation. We now show that Stat3 activation was triggered in lungs and in alveolar macrophages after intrapulmonary deposition of IgG immune complexes in rats. Low levels of constitutive Stat3 were observed in normal rat lungs as determined by the EMSA. Stat3 activity in whole lung extracts increased 2 h after initiation of IgG immune complex deposition, reaching maximal levels by 4 h, whereas Stat3 activation was found in alveolar macrophages as early as 30 min after onset of injury. Expression and activation of Stat3 mRNA, protein, and protein phosphorylation was accompanied by increased gene expression of IL-6, IL-10, and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 in whole lung tissues. Both Tyr(705) and Ser(727) phosphorylation were involved in Stat3 activation as assessed in whole lung extracts. C5a (complement 5, fragment a) per se can induce phosphorylation of Ser(727) of Stat3. In vivo, Stat3 activation was dramatically suppressed by depletion of neutrophils or lung macrophages, resulting in reduced gene expression of IL-6 and IL-10 in whole lung tissues. Using blocking Abs to IL-6, IL-10, and C5a, Stat3 activation induced by IgG immune complexes was markedly diminished. These data suggest in the lung injury model used that activation of Stat3 in lungs is macrophage dependent and neutrophil dependent. IL-6, IL-10, and C5a contribute to Stat3 activation in inflamed rat lung.     

STAT3 入核分子机制的初步研究

为了研究Stat3入核的分子机制,将SV40大T 抗原的经典核定位序列NLS(nuclear localization sequence)分别融合在Stat3-GFP分子和缺失突变体Dstat3-GFP的分子之间,构建Stat3-NLS-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP融合分子。转染293T细胞,以NLS-GFP为阳性对照,通过激光共聚焦显微镜的观察融合分子的亚细胞位置,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-NLS-GFP和经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP呈胞核分布,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP呈胞浆分布. 初步证明Stat3入核是由于获得了核定位序列。     

esBAF safeguards Stat3 binding to maintain pluripotency

How the unique chromatin configuration of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) integrates inputs from exogenous stimuli to maintain pluripotency remains largely unknown. The ESC-specific ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling (esBAF) complex maintains the accessibility of the target sites of Stat3, a leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signalling effector, by preventing repressive localized polycomb-mediated trimethylation of Lys 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3).     

Stat3 controls lysosomal-mediated cell death in vivo

It is well established that lysosomes play an active role during the execution of cell death. A range of stimuli can lead to lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), thus inducing programmed cell death without involvement of the classical apoptotic programme. However, these lysosomal pathways of cell death have mostly been described in vitro or under pathological conditions. Here we show that the physiological process of post-lactational regression of the mammary gland is accomplished through a non-classical, lysosomal-mediated pathway of cell death. We found that, during involution, lysosomes in the mammary epithelium undergo widespread LMP. Furthermore, although cell death through LMP is independent of executioner caspases 3, 6 and 7, it requires Stat3, which upregulates the expression of lysosomal proteases cathepsin B and L, while downregulating their endogenous inhibitor Spi2A (ref. 8). Our findings report a previously unknown, Stat3-regulated lysosomal-mediated pathway of cell death under physiological circumstances. We anticipate that these findings will be of major importance in the design of treatments for cancers such as breast, colon and liver, where cathepsins and Stat3 are commonly overexpressed and/or hyperactivated respectively.