Activation of STAT3 integrates common profibrotic pathways to promote fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis

Debomita Chakraborty, Barbora Šumová, Tatjana Mallano, Chih-Wei Chen, Alfiya Distler, Christina Bergmann, Ingo Ludolph, Raymund E. Horch, Kolja Gelse, Andreas Ramming, Oliver Distler, Georg Schett, Ladislav Šenolt and Jörg H. W. Distler ()
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Debomita Chakraborty: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Barbora Šumová: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Tatjana Mallano: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Chih-Wei Chen: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Alfiya Distler: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Christina Bergmann: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Ingo Ludolph: University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
Raymund E. Horch: University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
Kolja Gelse: University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
Andreas Ramming: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Oliver Distler: University Hospital Zurich
Georg Schett: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen
Ladislav Šenolt: Charles University
Jörg H. W. Distler: Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and University Hospital Erlangen

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is phosphorylated by various kinases, several of which have been implicated in aberrant fibroblast activation in fibrotic diseases including systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here we show that profibrotic signals converge on STAT3 and that STAT3 may be an important molecular checkpoint for tissue fibrosis. STAT3 signaling is hyperactivated in SSc in a TGFβ-dependent manner. Expression profiling and functional studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that STAT3 activation is mediated by the combined action of JAK, SRC, c-ABL, and JNK kinases. STAT3-deficient fibroblasts are less sensitive to the pro-fibrotic effects of TGFβ. Fibroblast-specific knockout of STAT3, or its pharmacological inhibition, ameliorate skin fibrosis in experimental mouse models. STAT3 thus integrates several profibrotic signals and might be a core mediator of fibrosis. Considering that several STAT3 inhibitors are currently tested in clinical trials, STAT3 might be a candidate for molecular targeted therapies of SSc.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01236-6

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