JAK-STAT Signaling in Asthma and Allergic Airway Inflammation

Allergic and non-allergic asthma is a heterogeneous disease resulting in inflammation of the airways that is orchestrated by a variety of immune cells, mediators, and pathways. The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is central to chronic inflammation in the airways and is utilized by cytokines that promote and maintain the asthmatic phenotype. Critical cytokines in the process include Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, IL-31 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Transgenic animal models of the JAK-STAT proteins and the use of JAK and STAT inhibitors in animals indicate important functional relevance of this pathway in regulating immune cells involved in asthma. Although JAK and STAT inhibitors are not currently being used in clinic to treat asthma, evidence from animal models make this pathway an attractive target for the treatment of asthmatic patients in the future.