Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation is not essential for CCL3-, CCL5- or CCL8-induced chemotaxis.

Chemokine receptors induce cell migration, but the molecular basis of the signal cascade involved is not completely understood. Therefore, we investigated here the molecular mechanisms of CCL3-, CCL5- and CCL8-induced cells migration and investigated whether the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling pathway is involved. Some STAT3 inhibitors, like Cucurbitacin I, destroy the actin cytoskeleton inside the cells and therefore prevent any cellular migration. However, for inhibitors that do not affect the actin cytoskeleton or induce cell death, we show that chemokine-induced cell migration is not dependent on activation of Janus kinase 2 or STAT3.