Anastasis Stephanou
Institute of Child Health
University College London
London, UK

About this Book

This book reviews current understanding of the biological roles of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins and their dysregulation in diseases. STAT proteins were named after their role as signal transducers and activators of transcription. STAT proteins are highly conserved among species, thus reflecting the importance of these transcription factors in controlling processes such as development, cell growth and homeostasis. STAT1 and STAT2 were the first STAT genes identified in the interferon signal transduction pathways. Since then seven more STATs have been identified including STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B and STAT6. The enormous amount of studies on STAT proteins over the past decade has enhanced our understanding of how STAT proteins at the biochemical and molecular level regulate gene expression.

Table of Contents

1. STAT1 and STAT3: Opposing Roles in Cell Death 
and Cell Cycle Regulation
Anastasis Stephanou, Richard A. Knight and David S. Latchman

2. Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling: Functions in Normal 
Biology and Roles in Disease
Alister C. Ward, Anna C. Barry and Lynda A. O’Sullivan

3. JAK/STAT Pathway Signalling in Drosophila melanogaster
Samira Bina and Martin Zeidler

4. STATs and Infection
Silvia Stockinger and Thomas Decker

5. STAT Protein Regulation of Inflammatory T‑Helper 
Cell Phenotypes
John T. O’Malley and Mark H. Kaplan

6. Janus Kinase (JAK)‑Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) Pathway in Heart Disease
Aneta E. Rybka, Anastasis Stephanou and Paul A. Townsend

7. The Role of the JAK/STAT Pathway in Inflammatory 
Bowel Diseases
Raja Atreya and Markus F. Neurath

8. STAT1 and STAT3 in Tumorigenesis: Two Sides 
of the Same Coin?
Sara Pensa, Gabriella Regis, Daniela Boselli, Francesco Novelli and Valeria Poli

9. The Oncogenic Role of Stat Transcription Factors 
in Breast Cancer
Katherine Hughes and Christine J. Watson

10. Stat5 as Hematopoietic Gatekeeper and Oncogene Upon Tyrosine Kinase‑Induced Transformation
Katrin Friedbichler, Marc A. Kerenyi, Ernst W. Müllner 
and Richard Moriggl

11. STAT5‑Mediated Self‑Renewal of Normal and Leukemic 
Stem Cells
Jan Jacob Schuringa

12. Developing Pharmacological Modulators of STAT Signaling
Erik A. Nelson and David A. Frank