New Perspectives on Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 in Ulcerative Colitis: Molecular Mechanisms and Dual Roles

In recent years, the global incidence of ulcerative colitis has been on the rise. As a core hub in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, the extensive aberrant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is a crucial cause of exacerbated intestinal inflammation, immune dysregulation, and imbalanced cell proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we systematically summarize the multidimensional regulatory mechanisms of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in ulcerative colitis, and further explore its dual roles in intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity along with the underlying mechanisms, clarifying that its functional properties shift with cell type, activation intensity, and disease stage. Our objective is to facilitate further research on the mechanisms by which aberrant signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 function drives ulcerative colitis progression and to explore novel approaches for clinical translation.