Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is involved in the cardioprotective signalling pathway activated by insulin therapy at reperfusion.

Objective: To evaluate the significance of the JAK-STAT pathway in insulin-induced cardioprotection from reperfusion injury.

Methods: In isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to insulin therapy (0.3 mU/ml) +/- AG490 (5 microM, JAK-STAT inhibitor), the phosphorylation state of STAT3 and Akt was determined after 15 min of reperfusion.