The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the STAT family of transcription factors In response to cytokines and growth factors STAT family members are phosphorylated by the receptor associated kinases and then form homo- or heterodimers that translocate to the cell nucleus where they act as transcription activators This protein is activated by and mediates the responses of many cell ligands such as IL2 IL3 IL7 GM-CSF erythropoietin thrombopoietin and different growth hormones Activation of this protein in myeloma and lymphoma associated with a TEL JAK2 gene fusion is independent of cell stimulus and has been shown to be essential for tumorigenesis The mouse counterpart of this gene is found to induce the expression of BCL2L1 BCL-X(L) which suggests the antiapoptotic function of this gene in cells Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene