Stem cell factor, the JAK-STAT pathway and signal transduction

Recent work has demonstrated the importance of Janus family kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) in the stimulus-response coupling of receptors lacking intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. In particular, the JAK-STAT pathway appears critical in signal transduction by interferon as well as numerous hematopoietic growth factors interacting with members of the hemapoietin receptor superfamily. Although ligands that interact with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), have been shown to induce increases in phosphorylation of both JAKs and STATs, little is known about activation of this pathway by stem cell factor (SCF). This review will summarize what is known about the JAK/STAT pathway in relation to SCF signal transduction.