Activation of the STAT3/Acute Phase Response Factor Transcription Factor by Interleukin-5

The receptor for interleukin-5 (IL-5R) is composed of a unique alpha chain (IL-5R alpha) expressed on eosinophils and basophils, associated with a beta c subunit, which is shared by the receptors for IL-3 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. One of the molecular events activated via the IL-5R is the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Recent reports have shown that IL-5 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 followed by the subsequent cell type-specific activation of either STAT1 alpha or STAT5. To identify additional STAT proteins activated by IL-5, we co-transfected the IL-5R with STAT cDNAs in COS cells. We found that IL-5 induces binding of STAT3 to the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 pIRE, and activates STAT3-dependent transcription. Moreover, endogenous STAT3 was tyrosine phosphorylated and activated in human IL-5-stimulated BaF3 cells ectopically expressing the human IL-5R (BaF3/IL5R). These data imply that multiple STAT proteins are involved in gene regulation by IL-5 in a cell type-specific manner. We further demonstrate using C-terminal truncations of the alpha and beta c subunits of the IL-5R that the membrane-proximal STAT activation. Interestingly, a beta c receptor mutant lacking intracellular tyrosine residues is able to mediate STAT3 activation, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta c receptor is not essential for STAT3 activation.