STAT3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: STAT3 acts as a master regulator of cell metabolism and is activated by many cytokines and growth factors including type I interferons, IL10, and the IL-6 family of cytokines; by real-time PCR we confirmed increased renal expression of both IL-6 and IL-10 in all three lupus strains as well as a panel of IFN-inducible genes.