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Loss of STAT5 causes liver fibrosis and cancer development through increased TGF-β and STAT3 activation

The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of hepatocellular carcinoma are not fully understood. Liver-specific signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5A/B–null mice (STAT5-LKO) were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), and histological analyses revealed liver fibros...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Hosui, Atsushi, Kimura, Akiko, Yamaji, Daisuke, Zhu, Bing-mei, Na, Risu, Hennighausen, Lothar
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Rockefeller University Press 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2715112/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19332876
http://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20080003
Descripción
Sumario:The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of hepatocellular carcinoma are not fully understood. Liver-specific signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5A/B–null mice (STAT5-LKO) were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), and histological analyses revealed liver fibrosis and tumors. Transforming growth factor (TGF)–β levels and STAT3 activity were elevated in liver tissue from STAT5-LKO mice upon CCl(4) treatment. To define the molecular link between STAT5 silencing and TGF-β up-regulation, as well as STAT3 activation, we examined STAT5-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts and primary hepatocytes. These cells displayed elevated TGF-β protein levels, whereas messenger RNA levels remained almost unchanged. Protease inhibitor studies revealed that STAT5 deficiency enhanced the stability of mature TGF-β. Immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry analyses demonstrated that STAT5, through its N-terminal sequences, could bind to TGF-β and that retroviral-mediated overexpression of STAT5 decreased TGF-β levels. To confirm the in vivo significance of the N-terminal domain of STAT5, we treated mice that expressed STAT5 lacking the N terminus (STAT5-ΔN) with CCl(4). STAT5-ΔN mice developed CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis but no tumors. In conclusion, loss of STAT5 results in elevated TGF-β levels and enhanced growth hormone–induced STAT3 activity. We propose that a deregulated STAT5–TGF-β–STAT3 network contributes to the development of chronic liver disease.