The JAK-STAT Pathway
The JAK-STAT signaling pathway is a chain of interactions between proteins in a cell that passes information from chemical signals outside the cell to the cell nucleus, resulting in DNA transcription and expression of specific genes.
How It Works
- Cytokines bind to cell surface receptors
- JAKs (Janus kinases) are activated
- STATs (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription) are phosphorylated
- STATs dimerize and move to the nucleus
- Gene expression is modified
Dysregulation in PAIS
Research has identified persistent activation of JAK-STAT pathways in PAIS patients, suggesting ongoing cytokine signaling that maintains a pro-inflammatory state:
- Elevated STAT1 phosphorylation in peripheral blood cells
- Increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes
- Persistent type I and type II interferon signaling
- Correlation with symptom severity