We are interested in understanding the molecular basis of macrophage (Mφ) differentiation and activation by cytokines. Recent reports have suggested that the transcription factor STAT5 may play a role in Mφ differentiation. In the experiments described here, we assessed the expression of STAT5-related molecules in three Mφ cell lines, RAW 264.7, WEHI-3, and WEHI-3D+, which represent different stages of Mφ maturation, and also in primary peritoneal and bone marrow Mφ from BALB/c mice. The studies revealed that the previously characterized STAT5a and STAT5b isoforms are detectable at both the mRNA and protein levels in these Mφ populations. Additional STAT5-related proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis and were preferentially expressed in both the immature WEHI-3 cell population and the adherent bone marrow population containing immature Mφ. These results identify new isoforms of STAT5 and demonstrate that distinct patterns of expression of STAT5-related proteins are observed in Mφ at different stages of maturation.
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Lokuta et al. (1998) studied this question.