Chemokines, lymphocytes and viruses: what goes around, comes around

The JAK/STAT pathway is recognized as one of the major mechanisms by which cytokine receptors transduce intracellular signals. This system is regulated at multiple levels, including JAK activation, nuclear trafficking of STAT factors, and negative feedback loops. Gene deletion studies have implicated selected STAT factors as pedominant mediators for a limited number of lymphokines. This signaling pathway influences normal cell survival and growth mechanisms and may contribute to oncogenic transformation.