Activation of Stat3 and Stat1 DNA binding and transcriptional activity in human brain tumour cell lines by gp130 cytokines

In this study we examine the activation of the latent Stat family of transcription factors by the gp130 family of cytokines in cell lines derived from human brain tumours. Of the cytokines tested, oncostatin M resulted in the most dramatic induction of Stat1 and Stat3 in all cell lines analysed, as assessed by the formation of protein/DNA complexes. Interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and ciliary neurotrophic factor also induced Stat complexes more selectively and to a lesser magnitude than oncostatin M. The kinetics of Stat1 and Stat3 activation was rapid and transient; the nuclear accumulation of DNA binding-proficient Stat protein was detected in the nucleus within minutes of cytokine induction. The transcriptional potential of the oncostatin M-activated Stat molecules was demonstrated in two glioma cell lines (U87-MG, SNB-19) by transient transfection experiments using a Stat-responsive reporter plasmid. Oncostatin M-dependent transcription from this reporter plasmid was reduced to uninduced levels by the inclusion of a dominant-negative Stat3 molecule, demonstrating that Stat molecules were responsible for the induction. These studies demonstrate that oncostatin M is the most potent activator of Stat molecules in a variety of brain tumour-derived cell lines, an observation that could have implications affecting the balance between proliferation/apoptosis of these cells. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.