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STAT3 Full Name
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor)
STAT3 Introduction
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cytoplasmic transcription factor and a key member of the STAT protein family that transduces extracellular signals from cytokines and growth factors into changes in gene expression in the nucleus. STAT3 is encoded by the STAT3 gene on human chromosome 17q21.2, and under physiological conditions it is activated through phosphorylation by receptor-associated Janus kinases (JAKs) in response to ligands such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferons, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and other stimuli, leading to dimerization, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional regulation of target genes involved in cell growth, survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. This canonical JAK/STAT3 signaling cascade underlies STAT3's essential roles in normal cell biology, and its activation is tightly regulated to maintain homeostasis and appropriate responses to environmental cues.
Figure 1. The JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and its transcriptional regulatory mechanisms.
Functionally, STAT3 coordinates multiple fundamental cellular processes that influence immune responses, development, and tissue homeostasis. It modulates gene expression that controls cell proliferation, anti-apoptotic mechanisms, angiogenesis, and metabolic pathways, and it also plays a critical role in immune cell differentiation, including the balance between regulatory and pro-inflammatory T cell subsets such as Th17 cells, which contribute to immune regulation and inflammatory responses. Because of this broad range of activities, STAT3 is indispensable for early embryogenesis and normal immune function, and its dysregulation can perturb these pathways in ways that promote chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, and altered cellular survival.
Clinically, abnormal STAT3 signaling is implicated in a wide array of diseases, making it a high-interest target for research tools and therapeutic development. Constitutive or persistent activation of STAT3 is frequently observed in many human cancers—including both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies—where it can drive tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy, and has been linked to poor prognosis. Beyond oncology, germline loss-of-function mutations in STAT3 cause autosomal dominant Hyper-IgE syndrome, a primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections and eczema, while germline gain-of-function variants lead to early-onset autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. Dysregulated STAT3 is also involved in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease and asthma) and contributes to pathological immune responses, making it a focal point for biomarker studies and targeted inhibitors. Research reagents including STAT3 antibodies, phospho-STAT3 assays, and small-molecule inhibitors are widely used to investigate STAT3 function and validate its role in disease models and drug discovery programs.
Alternate Names for STAT3
STAT3
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor)
APRF
HIES
ADMIO
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
DNA-binding protein APRF
acute-phase response factor
Cell Signaling
