Janus kinases and STAT family transcription factors: their role in the function and development of lymphoid cells

Cheng, Tommy P. and Galon, Jerome and Visconti, Roberta and Gadina, Massimo and O'Shea, John J. (2001) Janus kinases and STAT family transcription factors: their role in the function and development of lymphoid cells. In: Transcription factors: normal and malignant development of blood cells. Wiley-Liss, Inc, New York [etc.], pp. 229-254. ISBN 0-471-22388-3

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Abstract

Cytokines are a diverse group of secreted factors regulating cellular growth and differentiation. Knowledge of cytokine signaling has exponentially increased over the past few years. This chapter focuses on only two structurally related families of cytokine receptors, Type I and Type II receptor families, since their receptor phosphorylation leads to the activation of the Stat family of transcription factors. Members of these two receptor families have no intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and utilize Janus kinases (Jaks) to initiate intracellular signaling. Type I receptors bind hormones such as erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, prolactin, growth hormone, and specific interleukins, while Type II receptors bind interferons (IFN). The structure and function of various Jaks and Stats are the focus of this review; the latter in particular are emphasized in accordance with the transcription factor theme of this book. Since many interleukins are important in lymphoid development and immunoregulation, the critical roles that Jaks and Stats play in cytokine signaling may best be illustrated in the context of lessons from human disorders resulting from Jak mutations and the study of Jak/Stat deficient mice. The space constraint in this review makes citation of all of the studies contributing to the understanding of Jaks and Stats an impossible task. Hence, readers interested in more information are directed to some excellent reviews on this subject: Aringer et al., 1999; Bach et al., 1997; Baird et al., 1999; Carter-Su and Smit, 1998; Darnell et al., 1994; Hoey and Grusby, 1999; Ihle, 1995; Ihle et al., 1998; Leonard and O’Shea, 1998; O’Shea, 1997. An important caveat should be made first, however. The fact that much work has focused on the role of Jaks and Stats in cytokine signaling has led to the notion of a ‘‘Jak-Stat’’ pathway. While it has been useful to think of signaling in these terms and genetic data on Drosophila can be interpreted as a linear pathway, such a simplistic view of mammalian Jak-Stat systems can be misleading, as is elaborated below.

Item Type:	Book Section
Subjects:	500 Scienze naturali e Matematica 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia
Depositing User:	Dr Roberta Visconti
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2017 15:47
Last Modified:	11 Jan 2017 15:47
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/15821

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