Exposing the Two Contrasting Faces of STAT2 in Inflammation.

Inflammation is a natural immune defense mechanism of the body's response to injury, infection, and other damaging triggers. Uncontrolled inflammation may become chronic and contribute to a range of chronic inflammatory diseases. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) is an essential transcription factor exclusive to type I and type III interferon (IFN) signaling pathways. Both pathways are involved in multiple biological processes, including powering the immune system as a means of controlling infection that must be tightly regulated to offset the development of persistent inflammation. While studies depict STAT2 as protective in promoting host defense, new evidence is accumulating that exposes the deleterious side of STAT2 when inappropriately regulated, thus prompting its reevaluation as a signaling molecule with detrimental effects in human disease. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the findings based on literature regarding the inflammatory behavior of STAT2 in microbial infections, cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. In conveying the extent of our knowledge of STAT2 as a proinflammatory mediator, the aim of this review is to stimulate further investigations into the role of STAT2 in diseases characterized by deregulated inflammation and the mechanisms responsible for triggering severe responses.

Change in an urban food environment within a single year: Considerations for food-environment research and community health.

Past research on food-environment change has been limited in key ways: (1) considering only select storefront businesses; (2) presuming items sold based on businesses category; (3) describing change only in ecological terms; (4) considering multi-year intervals. The current study addressed past limitations by: (1) considering a full range of both storefront and non-storefront businesses; (2) focusing on items actually offered (both healthful and less-healthful varieties); (3) describing individual-business-level changes (openings, closings, changes in offerings); (4) evaluating changes within a single year. Using a longitudinal, matched-pair comparison of 119 street segments in the Bronx, NY (October 2016-August 2017), investigators assessed all businesses-food stores, restaurants, other storefront businesses (OSBs), street vendors-for healthful and less-healthful food/drink offerings. Changes were described for individual businesses, individual street segments, and for the area overall. Overall, the number (and percentage) of businesses offering any food/drink increased from 45 (41.7%) in 2016 to 49 (45.8%) in 2017; businesses newly opening or newly offering food/drink cumulatively exceeded those shutting down or ceasing food/drink sales. In 2016, OSBs (gyms, barber shops, laundromats, furniture stores, gas stations, etc.) together with street vendors represented 20.0% and 27.3% of businesses offering healthful and less-healthful items, respectively; in 2017, the percentages were 31.0% and 37.0%. While the number of businesses offering healthful items increased, the number offering less-healthful items likewise increased and remained greater. If change in a full range of food/drink availability is not appreciated: food-environment studies may generate erroneous conclusions; communities may misdirect resources to address food-access disparities; and community residents may have increasing, but unrecognized, opportunities for unhealthful consumption.