ML-115

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cytokine-inducible transcription factor with roles in inflammation and cancer.{7286,11981} ML-115 is an isoxazole carboxamide that acts as a cell-permeable STAT3 activator (EC50 = 2 nM) and is more than 28,000-fold selective for STAT3 over STAT1 and NF-?B.{29820} It shows no cytotoxicity against HT-1080 or NIH-3T3 cells. ML-115 increases the expression of BCL3, a known STAT3-dependent oncogene, and enhances STAT3 activation by the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6.{29820} As the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells requires continued activation of STAT3, ML-115 may be useful in maintaining embryonic stem cells in an undifferentiated state.{29820}