image: Too much STAT1 in the cell induces chronic inflammation and auto immune diseases in the body. In contrast, insufficient amounts of STAT1 can cause chronic infections and cancer. view more
Credit: (Illustration: Nicole R. Leitner / Vetmeduni Vienna)
STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) is a member of a family of transcription factors, cellular proteins that control whether and when particular genes are active. STAT1 transmits signals from interferons to the immune system. Animals with too little STAT1 suffer from weak immune responses and are prone to develop tumours: human cancer patients frequently have mutations in their STAT1 gene. On the other hand, too much STAT1 causes the immune system to overreact and in humans often results in autoimmune diseases. It is thus vital to ensure the correct dose of STAT1 in the body.
Dosing STAT1 in the mouse
Nicole R. Leitner from the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics and her colleagues now report the development of a genetically modified mouse where the level of STAT1 can be fine-tuned. The production of STAT1 is under the control of the drug doxycycline, which is added to the drinking water. If less doxycycline is given, STAT1 levels are correspondingly low; adding more doxycycline to the water results in higher STAT1 levels. The system enables the researchers to investigate the precise role of STAT1 in various disease conditions such as breast cancer or infectious diseases.
"Mice whose STAT1 can be completely switched off, so-called knock-out mice, have been around for some time. The special feature of our model is its ability to produce an exact dose of protein. This will make it possible for us to examine the origins and the course of many diseases and ultimately to test possible cures for them," says Leitner.
Mathias Müller, the Director of the Institute, is excited by the model's potential. As he notes, "we are currently investigating the function of STAT1 in various forms of cancer, such as breast cancer and leukaemia. In the future it might be possible to use information on the amount of STAT1 in the cell to give an indication about the progression of diseases and thus to guide the choice of therapy."
The article "Inducible, dose-adjustable and time-restricted reconstitution of Stat1 deficiency in vivo" by Nicole R. Leitner, Caroline Lassnig, Rita Rom, Susanne Heider, Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath, Robert Eferl, Simone Müller, Thomas Kolbe, Lukas Kenner, Thomas Rülicke, Birgit Strobl and Mathias Müller appeared recently in the online Journal PLOS ONE. http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0086608
The research was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF - see http://www.jak-stat.at/) and the GENAU programme of the Austrian Ministry of Science (see http://www.gen-au.at/projekt.jsp?projektId=69&lang=en).
About the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna is the only academic and research institution in Austria that focuses on the veterinary sciences. About 1200 employees and 2300 students work on the campus in the north of Vienna, which also houses the animal hospital and various spin-off-companies. http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at
Scientific Contact:
Prof. Mathias Müller
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Unit of Molecular Genetics
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)
T +43 1 20577-5620
mathias.mueller@vetmeduni.ac.at
Released by:
Susanna Kautschitsch
Science Communication / Public Relations
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)
T +43 1 25077-1153
susanna.kautschitsch@vetmeduni.ac.at
Journal
PLoS ONE