The Effects of STAT3 Inhibitors on Myoblast Proliferation and Differentiation

Skeletal muscle is a plastic tissue continuously being remodeled and repaired. Imbalances in muscle homeostasis are implicated in muscle wasting as a complication of age and disease, which worsens prognoses and quality of life. A common signaling pathway has been identified for its roles in embryonic development, cachexic wasting, and exercise-induced hypertrophy. STAT3 is a transcription factor activated by cytokines that positively controls pathways responsible for muscle cell proliferation, differentiation, proteolysis, and catabolism. Inhibitors of STAT3 phosphorylation have potential as disease-modifying drugs in cancer-associated cachexia. However, it is essential to elucidate the paradoxical role of STAT3 in apparently opposing processes within the development of muscle tissue.