Role of the JAK-STAT pathway in PDGF-stimulated proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells.

Airway remodeling, as manifested by an increase in airway smooth muscle mass, mucous gland hyperplasia, and subepithelial fibrosis, contributes to the airway hyperresponsiveness and fixed obstruction seen in some asthmatic patients. Here we investigated whether the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway contributes to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated mitogenesis of human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMC). PDGF treatment of quiescent HASMC resulted in the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and DNA binding of STAT1 and STAT3. This phosphorylation was blocked by inhibition of Src and JAK2 kinases. In addition, STAT activation by PDGF was found to be redox dependent. Moreover, PDGF-induced thymidine uptake was completely blocked by pretreatment of HASMC with the STAT kinase inhibitors AG-490, SU-6656, and PP2. Interestingly, the JAK pathway was required for HASMC mitogenesis independently of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Inhibition of the Src and JAK kinases blocked PDGF-stimulated gene expression of the STAT target genes cyclin D1 and c-myc. These results indicate that the JAK-STAT pathway contributes to PDGF-induced mitogenesis, and thus this pathway may be important in the airway remodeling seen in some asthmatic patients.