title: Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) family members in helminth infections.
abstract: Helminth parasites are a diverse group of multicellular organisms. Despite their heterogeneity, helminths share many common characteristics, such as the modulation of the immune system of their hosts towards a permissive state that favors their development. They induce strong Th2-like responses with high levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 cytokines, and decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ. IL-4, IFN-γ and other cytokines bind with their specific cytokine receptors to trigger an immediate signaling pathway in which different tyrosine kinases (e.g. Janus kinases) are involved. Furthermore, a seven-member family of transcription factors named Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) that initiate the transcriptional activation of different genes are also involved and regulate downstream the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. However, how helminths avoid and modulate immune responses remains unclear; moreover, information concerning STAT-mediated immune regulation during helminth infections is scarce. Here, we review the research on mice deficient in STAT molecules, highlighting the importance of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in regulating susceptibility and/or resistance in these infections.
authors: Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-UNAM, México.
authors: Mireya
authors: M
authors: Becerra-Díaz
authors: Héctor
authors: H
authors: Valderrama-Carvajal
authors: Luis I
authors: LI
authors: Terrazas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005368:Filariasis / Q000378:metabolism; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000378:metabolism; D006376:Helminths / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013621:Taenia / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors