title: Innate immune regulation by STAT-mediated transcriptional mechanisms.
abstract: The term innate immunity typically refers to a quick but non-specific host defense response against invading pathogens. The innate immune system comprises particular immune cell populations, epithelial barriers, and numerous secretory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and defense peptides. Innate immune cells are also now recognized to play important contributing roles in cancer and pathological inflammatory conditions. Innate immunity relies on rapid signal transduction elicited upon pathogen recognition via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cell:cell communication conducted by soluble mediators, including cytokines. A majority of cytokines involved in innate immune signaling use a molecular cascade encompassing receptor-associated Jak protein tyrosine kinases and STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) transcriptional regulators. Here, we focus on roles for STAT proteins in three major innate immune subsets: neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs). While knowledge in this area is only now emerging, understanding the molecular regulation of these cell types is necessary for developing new approaches to treat human disorders such as inflammatory conditions, autoimmunity, and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Haiyan S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Watowich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases
keywords: STAT proteins; cytokines; dendritic cells; macrophages; neutrophils