https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc284540/m2/1/high_res_d/1-s2.0-S0304419X13000644-main.pdf

Targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer: role of synthetic and natural inhibitors.

Deregulated activation of STAT3 is frequently associated with many human hematological and epithelial malignancies, including gastric cancer. While exaggerated STAT3 signaling facilitates an antiapoptotic, proangiogenic, and proproliferative environment for neoplastic cells, the molecular mechanisms leading to STAT3 hyperactivation remain poorly understood. Using the gp130(Y757F/Y757F) mouse model of gastric cancer, which carries a mutated gp130 cytokine receptor signaling subunit that cannot bind the negative regulator of cytokine signaling SOCS3 and is characterized by hyperactivation of the signaling molecules STAT1 and STAT3, we have provided genetic evidence that IL-11 promotes chronic gastric inflammation and associated tumorigenesis. Expression of IL-11 was increased in gastric tumors in gp130(Y757F/Y757F) mice, when compared with unaffected gastric tissue in wild-type mice, while gp130(Y757F/Y757F) mice lacking the IL-11 ligand-binding receptor subunit (IL-11Ralpha) showed normal gastric STAT3 activation and IL-11 expression and failed to develop gastric tumors. Furthermore, reducing STAT3 activity in gp130(Y757F/Y757F) mice, either genetically or by therapeutic administration of STAT3 antisense oligonucleotides, normalized gastric IL-11 expression and alleviated gastric tumor burden. Surprisingly, the genetic reduction of STAT1 expression also reduced gastric tumorigenesis in gp130(Y757F/Y757F) mice and coincided with reduced gastric inflammation and IL-11 expression. Collectively, our data have identified IL-11 as a crucial cytokine promoting chronic gastric inflammation and associated tumorigenesis mediated by excessive activation of STAT3 and STAT1.

/pdf/stat3-and-stat1-mediate-il-11-dependent-and-inflammation-70cidrlnnm.pdf

STAT3 and STAT1 mediate IL-11–dependent and inflammation-associated gastric tumorigenesis in gp130 receptor mutant mice

IL-6 modulates immune responses and is essential for timely wound healing. As the functions mediated by IL-6 require binding to its specific receptor, IL-6Ralpha, it was expected that mice lacking IL-6Ralpha would have the same phenotype as IL-6-deficient mice. However, although IL-6Ralpha-deficient mice share many of the inflammatory deficits seen in IL-6-deficient mice, they do not display the delay in wound healing. Surprisingly, mice with a combined deficit of IL-6 and IL-6Ralpha, or IL-6-deficient mice treated with an IL-6Ralpha-blocking Ab, showed improved wound healing relative to mice with IL-6 deficiency, indicating that the absence of the receptor contributed to the restoration of timely wound healing, rather than promiscuity of IL-6 with an alternate receptor. Wounds in mice lacking IL-6 showed delays in macrophage infiltration, fibrin clearance, and wound contraction that were not seen in mice lacking IL-6Ralpha alone and were greatly reduced in mice with a combined deficit of IL-6 and IL-6Ralpha. MAPK activation-loop phosphorylation was elevated in wounds of IL-6Ralpha-deficient mice, and treatment of wounds in these mice with the MEK inhibitor U0126 resulted in a delay in wound healing suggesting that aberrant ERK activation may contribute to improved healing. These findings underscore a deeper complexity for IL-6Ralpha function in inflammation than has been recognized previously.

Julia F. Keller

Papers

Multiple reasons for an inefficient STAT1 response upon IL-6-type cytokine stimulation.