Specificity
This antibody recognises signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a member of the STAT protein family, which plays an important role in cell growth, survival differentiation and transformation, transducing signals from cytokine receptors to the nucleus. STAT3 is phosphorylated my members of the Janus kinase (JAK) family in response to cytokines and growth factors including interleukin-5, interleukin-6, epidermal growth factor and leukaemia inhibitory factor. Phosphorylation results in STAT activation and the formation of STAT3 homo- or STAT3/STAT1 and STAT3/STAT5 heterodimers. STAT dimers translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where they act as transcription factors. Deregulated JAK/STAT signaling has been implicated in a variety of cancers; STATs can regulate the tumor microenvironment and trigger a shift from cancer inhibition to promotion. STAT3 is expressed in the heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. Consistent STAT3 activation has been demonstrated to play a role in cell proliferation and tumor promoting inflammation.