| First Author | Wang J | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | J Clin Invest | Volume | 112 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 535-43 |
| PubMed ID | 12925694 | Mgi Jnum | J:85154 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2673015 | Doi | 10.1172/JCI18637 |
| Citation | Wang J, et al. (2003) Dysregulated Sonic hedgehog signaling and medulloblastoma consequent to IFN-alpha-stimulated STAT2-independent production of IFN-gamma in the brain. J Clin Invest 112(4):535-43 |
| abstractText | The type I IFNs (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta), which are crucial in antiviral defense and immune regulation, signal via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway with activation of STAT1 and STAT2. Here, the function of STAT2 was studied in transgenic mice (termed GIFN/STAT2-/-) with CNS production of IFN-alpha. Surprisingly, GIFN/STAT2-/-, but not GIFN/STAT1-null, transgenic mice, with CNS production of IFN-alpha, died prematurely with medulloblastoma. An immune response also induced in the brain of the GIFN/STAT2-/- mice was associated with IFN-gamma gene expression by CD3+ T cells and the activation of the STAT1, STAT3, STAT4, and STAT5 molecules. Expression of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and the downstream transcriptional factor Gli-1 genes, implicated in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma, was found to be significantly increased and cotranscribed in cerebellar granule neurons of the GIFN/STAT2-/- mice. IFN-gamma, but not IFN-alpha, induced STAT1-dependent expression of the Shh gene in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Thus, there is an unexpected and extraordinarily adverse biological potency of IFN-alpha in the CNS when the primary signal transduction molecule STAT2 is absent. Moreover, a hitherto unknown role is indicated for the immune system in the pathogenesis of developmental disorders and tumorigenesis of the CNS via dysregulated Shh signaling mediated by IFN-gamma. |
