STAT3 controls COL1A2 enhancer activation cooperatively with JunB, regulates type I collagen synthesis posttranscriptionally, and is essential for lung myofibroblast differentiation

STAT3 binds the collagen 1α2 enhancer and cooperates with JunB to activate it. We also show that fibroblasts have high basal levels of STAT3 activation, so activation of the enhancer by STAT3 is not affected by IL6. However, IL6 results in protein-level changes. Inhibition of STAT3 blocks collage…