title: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in retinal pigment epithelium cells.
abstract: The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of specialized epithelial cells located between the photoreceptors of the retina and the choroidal blood supply. The RPE is essential for maintaining retinal health and vision. Recent findings identified STAT3 as a newly recognized regulator of RPE survival, inflammatory response, visual cycle maintenance, and cytokine release. Additionally, STAT3 is implicated in retinal diseases that affect the RPE, including the common blinding disease age-related macular degeneration. Determining how STAT3 influences RPE functions ultimately may lead to novel therapeutics for retinal disease. In this review, we summarize the roles of JAK-STAT3 signaling in the RPE, and its potential contribution to retinal degenerations.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Miami, FL USA.
authors.forename: Amit K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Miami, FL USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Syeda
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Miami, FL USA.
authors.forename: Abigail S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hackam
keywords: STAT3; age-related macular degeneration; cell survival; retina; retinal degeneration; retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)