Active immune response protects Stat6VT transgenic mice from developing a lymphoproliferative disorder.
Stat6 is a transcription factor that regulates important cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival through mediating IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. Importantly, increasing evidence indicates of a role for Stat6 in lymphoproliferative disorders. Mice expressing a constitutively active form of Stat6 (Stat6VT) primarily in T lymphocytes were generated, and it has been recently described that a small percentage (approximately 5%) of these mice develop a spontaneous lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) resulting in dramatic splenomegaly and altered splenic cell populations. Here, we report that Stat6VT mice housed in a non-pathogen-free environment have an increased incidence (37%) of the LPD. Additionally, examination of the expression of Stat6-regulated genes known to have roles in tumorigenesis demonstrated that there appears to be no one genetic alteration common to lymphocytes from Stat6VT/LPD mice. Interestingly, however, uniform exposure to antigen via immunization resulted in complete abrogation of the LPD in Stat6VT mice.
Crane
Elizabeth D
ED
Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
Stephenson
Nicole
N
Haffner
Chris
C
Bruns
Heather A
HA
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D007114:Immunization; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse