[Recent progresses in the JAK-STAT signaling pathways].

The janus kinase(JAK) family and the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family members have been shown to be activated by a number of cytokines, growth factors and oncogenic tyrosine kinases, and called the JAK-STAT pathways collectively. The JAK-STAT families have been shown to play critical roles in determining growth, differentiation and death of normal and transformed cells. The outlines of the recent progresses in the JAK-STAT signaling pathways are presented, including results with gene targeting mice deficient of each JAK and STAT molecule and results with recent reports especially on the synergistic or contradictory roles of STAT3 and Ras/MAP kinase pathways in controlling cell growth and differentiation.