A unique role for Stat5 in recovery from acute anemia.
The precise role of erythropoietin receptor-activated (EpoR-activated) Stat5 in the regulation of erythropoiesis remains unclear. In this issue of the JCI, Menon and colleagues present new experimental data that indicate a distinct role for Stat5 in the regulation of stress-induced erythropoiesis, such as during acute anemic states (see the related article beginning on page 683). A critical function for Stat5 is to promote cell survival, possibly through transcriptional induction of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-x. In the present experimental system, erythropoietin-Stat5 signals did not induce Bcl-x expression but did induce oncostatin-M. Moreover, oncostatin-M was found to enhance survival of erythroid progenitors. This work differentiates between steady-state (or homeostatic) erythropoiesis and stress-induced erythropoiesis at the level of EpoR signaling.
Longmore
Gregory D
GD
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. glongmor@im.wustl.edu
D000208:Acute Disease; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor