title: Visualization of Stat3 and Stat5 transactivation activity with specific response element dependent reporter constructs integrated into lentiviral gene transfer vectors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and 5 (Stat3 and Stat5) play important roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation. They are transiently activated by ligand-receptor interactions in normal cells but are often found to be constitutively active in cancer cells. Analysis of their activation pattern is therefore important for the description of developmental processes and the understanding of cellular transformation.
  
  
  METHODS
  To visualize Stat3 and Stat5 transactivation activity in different cell types, we designed novel reporter constructs. These constructs comprise Stat3 or Stat5 specific promoter elements and reporter genes encoding β-galactosidase or fluorescent proteins. These constructs were integrated into lentiviral gene transfer vectors facilitating efficient transduction of most cell types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lentiviral reporter constructs were used to infect different cell types and their inducibility by activated Stat3 or Stat5 was measured. The Stat3-mCherry reporter was active in transduced tumor cells, which exhibit high levels of phosphorylated Stat3 and it was inducible in HepG2 liver cells by interleukin-6 treatment. The Stat5-LacZ reporter was active in cultured cells upon hormone induction of Stat5 and in primary mammary epithelial cells transplanted into cleared fat pads of mice during late pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These novel reporter constructs are valuable tools to investigate and to distinguish between Stat3 and Stat5 activity in primary cells and cancer cells. They will also be useful in the discovery of drugs targeting Stat3 or Stat5. They can also be employed to generate transgenic mice and track Stat activity during development.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gäbel
authors.forename: Nadja Lydia
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bednorz
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klemmt
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vafaizadeh
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghouts
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Groner